Gating of two mechanoelectrical transducer channels associated with a single tip link.

ABSTRACT: Although gating of mechanoelectrical transducer (MET) channels has been successfully described by assuming that one channel is associated with a tip link in the hair bundle, recent reports indicate that a single tip link is associated with more than one channel. To address the consistency of the model with the observations, gating of MET channels is described here by assuming that each tip link is associated with two identical MET channels, which are connected either in series or in parallel. We found that series connection does not lead to a single minimum of stiffness with respect to hair bundle displacement unless the minimum is above a certain positive value. Thus, negative stiffness must appear in pairs in the displacement axis. In contrast, parallel connection of the two channels pre

SUBMITTER: Sul B 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2920626 | biostudies-literature | 2010 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature