A membrane bending mechanism for nanoelectromechanical transduction in cochlear outer hair cells

摘要

Cochlear outer hair cells enhance the sensitivity of mammalian hearing by providing active mechanical feedback within the inner ear. These cells generate force with no phase shift at frequencies up to at least 50 kHz in response to millivolt changes in the transmembrane potential. This ability of the cell to deform at acoustic frequencies in response to electrical stimulation is referred to as electromotility. We have developed a new model of electromotility based on the nanostructural organization of the outer hair cell's lateral wall and the physical properties of lipid/protein assemblies. This model explains recent experimental data and motivates new experiments to flirther elucidate the precise mechanisms involved in the functioning of this exquisite biological microelectomechanical system (MEMs).