Molecular composition and protein interactions in the mechano-electrical transduction complex of zebrafish sensory hair cells

Hair cells transduce physical forces into electrical signals in nerves through a process called mechano-electrical transduction (MET), allowing auditory and vestibular perception. While the molecular identity of the pore-forming subunits of the channel remains a topic of debate, researchers have identified many proteins that are indispensable to MET. Only a select few are directly involved in gating the MET channel. In this dissertation, we used zebrafish to study two proteins involved in gating this channel, Protocadherin 15a (Pcdh15a) and Transmembrane Inner Ear (Tmie). Pcdh15a was previously confirmed to comprise the base of a rope-like structure that transfers mechanical stimulation to the channel.