The overall objective of the proposal is to identify hair cell/efferent transmitters/modulators at the periphery, the receptors mediating their actions, and the basic biochemical events occurring in hair-cell synaptic transmission as modulated by these transmitters that initiate afferent signaling in octavolateralis systems. In this new investigation, we will focus on the role of serotonin as an efferent transmitter within the auditory organ of Corti and as a receptoneural transmitter in vestibular hair cells. We will investigate norepinephrine-containing adrenergic efferents constituting a newly-recognized neural system operating within the organ of Corti and examine the newly-discovered efferent neuromodulator PACAP as to its sites of action and receptors. Molecular interactions of hair cell voltage-gated calcium channels (VGCC) with synaptic proteins and with scaffolding proteins will be investigated.
In Aim 1, we will continue the identification of neurotransmitters/neuromodulators in hair cells and inner-ear sensory epithelia, with femtomole-sensitive, high-resolution, high-performance liquid chromatography. Enzymes of synthesis and transporters for the transmitters will be analyzed with molecular and immunohistochemical protocols. Release, a criterion of neurotransmitter identification, will be investigated in response to sound stimulus in vivo.
In Aim 2, we will continue to characterize hair-cell voltage-gated calcium channels that give rise to the calcium-induced exocytotic signal via surface plasmon resonance and pull-down binding assays, examining protein-protein interactions.
In Aim 3, the corresponding neurotransmitter receptors - membrane-bound proteins that receive and respond to transmitters - will be characterized as to their molecular functional domains and their neural and hair-cell immunolocalizations, defining mechanisms for afferent/efferent signaling in the acoustico-lateralis periphery. These approaches, utilizing microbiochemical methods, should result in continued, detailed elucidation of structure and molecular function of peripheral neurotransmitter systems of hearing and balance, pointing the way to development of biochemical and genetic therapies for transmitter-related hearing loss, vertigo, and tinnitus. The possibility of biochemical/pharmacologic manipulation of afferent signaling in auditory/vestibular deficits such as deafness, tinnitus, and dizziness is completely dependent upon our knowledge of basic elements of hair-cell receptoneural transmission, as modulated by efferent neurotransmission. Recent advancements in the identification of new neurotransmitters/neuromodulators in hair cell-containing sensory epithelia point to continuing relevance and need for this kind of investigation. Identification of the presently unknown outer hair cell transmitter, considered in the proposal, has implications for peripherally-derived tinnitus. Serotonergic and adrenergic efferents are implicated in modulating otoacoustic emissions and are likely to be involved in determining the set point for the outer hair cells. Native neuroprotective mechanisms for the type I afferent dendrites is an issue addressed in the present proposal for the neuropeptide PACAP, important in excitotoxicity and noise-induced deafness. Characterization of the interactions of voltage-gated calcium channels with synaptic complex proteins has implications for providing the necessary elements to reverse deafness, such as DFNB9, caused by mutations in the synaptic complex protein, otoferlin.

Public Health Relevance

The possibility of biochemical/pharmacologic manipulation of afferent signaling in auditory/vestibular deficits such as deafness, tinnitus, and dizziness is completely dependent upon our knowledge of basic elements of hair-cell receptoneural transmission, as modulated by efferent neurotransmission. Recent advancements in the identification of new neurotransmitters/neuromodulators in hair cell-containing sensory epithelia point to continuing relevance and need for this kind of investigation. Identification of the presently unknown outer hair cell transmitter, considered in the proposal, has implications for peripherally-derived tinnitus. Serotonergic and adrenergic efferents are implicated in modulating otoacoustic emissions and are likely to be involved in determining the set point for the outer hair cells. Native neuroprotective mechanisms for the type I afferent dendrites is an issue addressed in the present proposal for the neuropeptide PACAP, important in excitotoxicity and noise-induced deafness. Characterization of the interactions of voltage-gated calcium channels with synaptic complex proteins has implications for providing the necessary elements to reverse deafness, such as DFNB9, caused by mutations in the synaptic complex protein, otoferlin.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01DC000156-29
Application #
7788185
Study Section
Auditory System Study Section (AUD)
Program Officer
Cyr, Janet
Project Start
1980-05-01
Project End
2014-03-31
Budget Start
2010-04-01
Budget End
2011-03-31
Support Year
29
Fiscal Year
2010
Total Cost
$319,770
Indirect Cost
Name
Wayne State University
Department
Otolaryngology
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
001962224
City
Detroit
State
MI
Country
United States
Zip Code
48202
Selvakumar, Dakshnamurthy; Drescher, Marian J; Deckard, Nathan A et al. (2017) Dopamine D1A directly interacts with otoferlin synaptic pathway proteins: Ca2+ and phosphorylation underlie an NSF-to-AP2mu1 molecular switch. Biochem J 474:79-104
Drescher, Dennis G; Dakshnamurthy, Selvakumar; Drescher, Marian J et al. (2016) Surface Plasmon Resonance (SPR) Analysis of Binding Interactions of Inner-Ear Proteins. Methods Mol Biol 1427:165-87
Ramakrishnan, Neeliyath A; Drescher, Marian J; Morley, Barbara J et al. (2014) Calcium regulates molecular interactions of otoferlin with soluble NSF attachment protein receptor (SNARE) proteins required for hair cell exocytosis. J Biol Chem 289:8750-66
Selvakumar, Dakshnamurthy; Drescher, Marian J; Drescher, Dennis G (2013) Cyclic nucleotide-gated channel ?-3 (CNGA3) interacts with stereocilia tip-link cadherin 23 + exon 68 or alternatively with myosin VIIa, two proteins required for hair cell mechanotransduction. J Biol Chem 288:7215-29
Ramakrishnan, Neeliyath A; Drescher, Marian J; Drescher, Dennis G (2012) The SNARE complex in neuronal and sensory cells. Mol Cell Neurosci 50:58-69
Ramakrishnan, Neeliyath A; Drescher, Marian J; Khan, Khalid M et al. (2012) HCN1 and HCN2 proteins are expressed in cochlear hair cells: HCN1 can form a ternary complex with protocadherin 15 CD3 and F-actin-binding filamin A or can interact with HCN2. J Biol Chem 287:37628-46
Selvakumar, Dakshnamurthy; Drescher, Marian J; Dowdall, Jayme R et al. (2012) CNGA3 is expressed in inner ear hair cells and binds to an intracellular C-terminus domain of EMILIN1. Biochem J 443:463-76
Drescher, Dennis G; Cho, Won Jin; Drescher, Marian J (2011) Identification of the porosome complex in the hair cell. Cell Biol Int Rep (2010) 18:
Drescher, M J; Cho, W J; Folbe, A J et al. (2010) An adenylyl cyclase signaling pathway predicts direct dopaminergic input to vestibular hair cells. Neuroscience 171:1054-74
Ramakrishnan, Neeliyath A; Drescher, Marian J; Drescher, Dennis G (2009) Direct interaction of otoferlin with syntaxin 1A, SNAP-25, and the L-type voltage-gated calcium channel Cav1.3. J Biol Chem 284:1364-72

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