Abstract
Hair cells of the inner ear are mechanoreceptors for hearing and balance, and proteins highly enriched in hair cells may have specific roles in the development and maintenance of the mechanotransduction apparatus. We identified XIRP2/mXinβ as an enriched protein likely to be essential for hair cells. We found that different isoforms of this protein are expressed and differentially located: short splice forms (also called XEPLIN) are targeted more to stereocilia, whereas two long isoforms containing a XIN-repeat domain are in both stereocilia and cuticular plates. Mice lacking the Xirp2 gene developed normal stereocilia bundles, but these degenerated with time: stereocilia were lost and long membranousprotrusions emanated from the nearby apical surfaces. At an ultrastructural level, the paracrystalline actin filaments became disorganized. XIRP2 isapparently involved in the maintenance of actin structures in stereocilia and cuticular plates of haircells, and perhaps in other organs where it is expressed.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 1811-1818 |
Number of pages | 8 |
Journal | Cell Reports |
Volume | 10 |
Issue number | 11 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Mar 24 2015 |
Externally published | Yes |
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- General Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology