Firm molecular handshake needed for hearing and balance
Wednesday, November 7, 2012 - 14:41
in Biology & Nature
Researchers have mapped the precise 3-D atomic structure of a thin protein filament critical for cells in the inner ear and calculated the force necessary to pull it apart. These findings show the characteristics of the most vulnerable area of a structure called the tip link, and open avenues for research in fields related to noise-induced hearing loss and certain genetic diseases.