Liga YouTube
Resumen:
Sensory hair cells of the inner ear convert mechanical information (sound) into electrical signals that are transmitted to the brain. At the core of this process is a mechanosensitive ion channel protein
that is gated by force. Identification of the proteins that mediate hair cell mechanosensitivity at the molecular level has been a focus of intensive research and debate. For this seminar I will present evidence
supporting the hypothesis that the hair cell mechanosensory ion channel is formed by Transmembrane Channel-like 1 (TMC1). TMC1 is also the target of numerous genetic mutations that cause deafness in
humans. I will also discuss recent work focused on development of therapeutic strategies to restore auditory function for patients with TMC1-related hearing loss.
