Cnidarian mechanosensory cells as ancestors of vertebrate hair cells: Molecular targeting of an ancient mechanotransduction complex.
Conversion of mechanical stimuli into electrical signals underlies many physiological processes, including auditory and vestibular functions. In vertebrate hair cells, the mechanoelectrical transduction complex (METC)-a multiprotein and Ca2+-dependent sound and motion receptor-is located at the stereociliary tips withi...