Modulation of mechanics and electromechanical force in prestin transfected membrane tethers

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dc.contributor.advisorAnvari, Bahmanen_US
dc.creatorZhang, Ruien_US
dc.date.accessioned2009-06-03T21:12:35Zen_US
dc.date.available2009-06-03T21:12:35Zen_US
dc.date.issued2007en_US
dc.description.abstractThe voltage-dependent movement, or electromotility, of cochlear outer hair cells (OHCs) contributes to cochlear amplification in mammalian hearing. Prestin, a transmembrane protein expressed in the lateral wall of the OHSs, is essential for electromotility, but molecular details of its function are unknown. Using a combined optical tweezers and whole-cell voltage clamping system, we have investigated the contribution of prestin to the mechanics and electromechanical force (EMF) of membrane tethers, and related these parameters to prestin-associated non-linear capacitance (NLC). Our study included three test groups consisting of (i) untransfected; (ii) wild type (WT) prestin-transfected; and (iii) mutant (A100W) prestin-transfected human embryonic kidney (HEK) cells. While there was no difference in membrane effective viscosity among the three cell types, tethers from WT prestin-transfected HEK cells demonstrated altered membrane mechanical parameters and increased EMF values than control untransfected HEK cells. We found that A100W mutation in prestin, which eliminates NLC also diminishes EMF, but does not affect membrane mechanical parameters. These results suggest that prestin-associated charge transfer is associated with generation of EMF in the membrane, but independent of the effect of prestin on membrane mechanics. Based on our results, we propose synergistic effects of prestin and the membrane in the generation of NLC and electromotility. The information these results provide is important for understanding protein/membrane interactions, prestin properties and the origin of electromotility.en_US
dc.format.extent65 p.en_US
dc.format.mimetypeapplication/pdfen_US
dc.identifier.callnoTHESIS SP. SCI. 2007 ZHANGen_US
dc.identifier.citationZhang, Rui. "Modulation of mechanics and electromechanical force in prestin transfected membrane tethers." (2007) Master’s Thesis, Rice University. <a href="https://hdl.handle.net/1911/20547">https://hdl.handle.net/1911/20547</a>.en_US
dc.identifier.urihttps://hdl.handle.net/1911/20547en_US
dc.language.isoengen_US
dc.rightsCopyright is held by the author, unless otherwise indicated. Permission to reuse, publish, or reproduce the work beyond the bounds of fair use or other exemptions to copyright law must be obtained from the copyright holder.en_US
dc.subjectBiophysicsen_US
dc.titleModulation of mechanics and electromechanical force in prestin transfected membrane tethersen_US
dc.typeThesisen_US
dc.type.materialTexten_US
thesis.degree.departmentSpace Scienceen_US
thesis.degree.disciplineNatural Sciencesen_US
thesis.degree.grantorRice Universityen_US
thesis.degree.levelMastersen_US
thesis.degree.nameMaster of Scienceen_US
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