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A sugar transporter as a candidate for the outer hair cell motor

Nature Neuroscience volume 2, pages 713–719 (1999)Cite this article

Abstract

Forces developed by cochlear outer hair cells (OHCs) are responsible for the sharp tuning that underlies sensitivity and frequency selectivity in the ear. OHCs exhibit a voltage-dependent motility involving a 'motor' protein embedded in the basolateral membrane. The motor has so far resisted molecular identification. Here we provide evidence that it may be related to a fructose transporter. We show that OHCs are able to transport this sugar selectively and that the sugar alters electrical properties of the OHC motor. These data can be combined into an integrated model of a sugar carrier, that makes the novel prediction, demonstrated here, that such 'neutral' transporters can be voltage dependent.

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Figure 1: Outer hair cell volume change induced by replacement of sugars.
Figure 2: GLUT5 expression in the organ of Corti.
Figure 3: Sugar transport affects charge movement in OHCs.
Figure 4: Time course of extracellular fructose action.
Figure 5: Effect of fructose on capacitance in basolateral membrane patches.
Figure 6: Localization of the capacitance change produced by fructose.
Figure 7: A kinetic scheme for the outer hair cell motor.

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Acknowledgements

This work was supported by the Wellcome Trust. We thank Matthew Holley, Peter Mobbs and Luca Turin for comments on an earlier version of the manuscript. S.O.C. is supported by a George John Livanos Charitable Trust Fellowship.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Physiology, University College London, Gower Street, London, WC1 E6BT, UK

    Gwénaëlle S.G. Géléoc & Jonathan F. Ashmore

  2. Institute of Laryngology and Otology, University College London, 330-332 Gray's Inn Road, London, WC1 X8EE, UK

    Stefano O. Casalotti & Andrew Forge

Authors
  1. Gwénaëlle S.G. Géléoc
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  2. Stefano O. Casalotti
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  3. Andrew Forge
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  4. Jonathan F. Ashmore
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Correspondence to Jonathan F. Ashmore.

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Géléoc, G., Casalotti, S., Forge, A. et al. A sugar transporter as a candidate for the outer hair cell motor. Nat Neurosci 2, 713–719 (1999). https://doi.org/10.1038/11174

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