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Research:
The exquisite
sensitivity and frequency resolving power of the mammalian inner ear
depends upon interactions between the two receptor cells of the organ
of Corti, inner (IHC) and outer (OHC) hair cells. Whereas inner hair
cells appear to function solely as receptors of acoustic information,
OHC's function both as receptors and effectors, producing motile responses
as a function of transmembrane potential fluctuations. These motile
responses modify the mechanical input to the inner hair cells which
receive the majority of afferent innervation, thereby enhancing the
gross frequency tuning afforded by basilar membrane mechanics. We study
the effector role of the OHC with electrophysiological (patch clamp)
and displacement measurement techniques using isolated OHCs from the
guinea pig. We also work on the motor protein (prestin) responsible
for the cells' mechanical activity, utilizing mutational analysis and
expression systems to understand how it works.
Selected
Publications:
Bai,
J.-P., Navaratnam,D., Samaranayake,H., and Santos-Sacchi, J.
C-terminal charge reversals alter OHC mechanical activity. Neuroscience
Letters, in press, 2006.
Santos-Sacchi
J. (guest Editor for special issue) Membranes and Their Interacting
Partners in Peripheral Auditory Function : Foreword: Let's Hear It for
the Membranes! J. Membrane Biology, May 25 (Epub ahead of print), 2006.
He
DZ, Zheng J, Kalinec F, Kakehata S, Santos-Sacchi J. Tuning
in to the Amazing Outer Hair Cell: Membrane Wizardry with a Twist and
Shout. J. Membrane Biology ,, May 27 (Epub ahead of print), 2006.
Santos-Sacchi,
J, Song, L, Zheng, J, and Nuttall, AL. Control of mammalian
cochlear amplification by chloride anions. J. Neuroscience, 12;26(15):3992-8,
2006.
joseph.santos-sacchi@yale.edu
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