Stereocilia-staircase spacing is influenced by myosin III motors and their cargos espin-1 and espin-like

  • Seham Ebrahim
  • , Matthew R. Avenarius
  • , Mhamed Grati
  • , Jocelyn F. Krey
  • , Alanna M. Windsor
  • , Aurea D. Sousa
  • , Angela Ballesteros
  • , Runjia Cui
  • , Bryan A. Millis
  • , Felipe T. Salles
  • , Michelle A. Baird
  • , Michael W. Davidson
  • , Sherri M. Jones
  • , Dongseok Choi
  • , Lijin Dong
  • , Manmeet H. Raval
  • , Christopher M. Yengo
  • , Peter G. Barr-Gillespie
  • , Bechara Kachar

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Hair cells tightly control the dimensions of their stereocilia, which are actin-rich protrusions with graded heights that mediate mechanotransduction in the inner ear. Two members of the myosin-III family, MYO3A and MYO3B, are thought to regulate stereocilia length by transporting cargos that control actin polymerization at stereocilia tips. We show that eliminating espin-1 (ESPN-1), an isoform of ESPN and a myosin-III cargo, dramatically alters the slope of the stereocilia staircase in a subset of hair cells. Furthermore, we show that espin-like (ESPNL), primarily present in developing stereocilia, is also a myosin-III cargo and is essential for normal hearing. ESPN-1 and ESPNL each bind MYO3A and MYO3B, but differentially influence how the two motors function. Consequently, functional properties of different motor-cargo combinations differentially affect molecular transport and the length of actin protrusions. This mechanism is used by hair cells to establish the required range of stereocilia lengths within a single cell.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Article number10833
JournalNature communications
Volume7
DOIs
StatePublished - Mar 1 2016

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • General Chemistry
  • General Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology
  • General Physics and Astronomy

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