Asymmetric distribution of cadherin 23 and protocadherin 15 in the kinocilial links of avian sensory hair cells.

ABSTRACT: Cadherin 23 and protocadherin 15 are components of tip links, fine filaments that interlink the stereocilia of hair cells and are believed to gate the hair cell's mechanotransducer channels. Tip links are aligned along the hair bundle's axis of mechanosensitivity, stretching obliquely from the top of one stereocilium to the side of an adjacent, taller stereocilium. In guinea pig auditory hair cells, tip links are polarized with cadherin 23 at the upper end and protocadherin 15 at the lower end, where the transducer channel is located. Double immunogold labeling of avian hair cells was used to study the distribution of these two proteins in kinocilial links, a link type that attaches the tallest stereocilia of the hair bundle to the kinocilium. In the kinocilial links of vestibular hair bun

SUBMITTER: Goodyear RJ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3337639 | biostudies-literature | 2010 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature