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Prestin Modulates Mechanics and Electromechanical Force of the Plasma Membrane

Rui Zhang, Feng Qian, Lavanya Rajagopalan, Fred A Pereira, William E Brownell, and Bahman Anvari

Biophys J 93(1):0 (2007) PMID 17468166 PMCID 1914414

The voltage-dependent movement, or electromotility, of cochlear outer hair cells contributes to cochlear amplification in mammalian hearing. Outer hair-cell electromotility involves a membrane-based motor in which the membrane protein prestin plays a central role. We have investigated the contribution of prestin to the mechanics and electromechanical force (EMF) generation of the membrane using membrane tethers formed from human embryonic kidney (HEK) cells. Several measures of membrane tether mechanics are greater in tethers pulled from HEK cells transfected with prestin when compared to control untransfected HEK cells. A single point mutation of alanine to tryptophan (A100W) in prestin eliminates prestin-associated charge movement and diminishes EMF but does not alter passive membrane mechanics. These results suggest that prestin-associated charge transfer is necessary for maximal EMF generation by the membrane.

Copyright © 2007 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

DOI: 10.1529/biophysj.107.107573
Version: za2963e q8za8 q8zb3 q8zcb q8zd4 q8ze7 q8zfe q8zg8

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