EHD4 and CDH23 are interacting partners in cochlear hair cells

J Biol Chem. 2009 Jul 24;284(30):20121-9. doi: 10.1074/jbc.M109.025668. Epub 2009 Jun 1.

Abstract

Cadherin 23 (CDH23), a transmembrane protein localized near the tips of hair cell stereocilia in the mammalian inner ear, is important for delivering mechanical signals to the mechano-electric transducer channels. To identify CDH23-interacting proteins, a membrane-based yeast two-hybrid screen of an outer hair cell (OHC) cDNA library was performed. EHD4, a member of the C-terminal EH domain containing a protein family involved in endocytic recycling, was identified as a potential interactor. To confirm the interaction, we first demonstrated the EHD4 mRNA expression in hair cells using in situ hybridization. Next, we showed that EHD4 co-localizes and co-immunoprecipitates with CDH23 in mammalian cells. Interestingly, the co-immunoprecipitation was found to be calcium-sensitive. To investigate the role of EHD4 in hearing, compound action potentials were measured in EHD4 knock-out (KO) mice. Although EHD4 KO mice have normal hearing sensitivity, analysis of mouse cochlear lysates revealed a 2-fold increase in EHD1, but no increase in EHD2 or EHD3, in EHD4 KO cochleae compared with wild type, suggesting that a compensatory increase in EHD1 levels may account for the absence of a hearing defect in EHD4 KO mice. Taken together, these data indicate that EHD4 is a novel CDH23-interacting protein that could regulate CDH23 trafficking/localization in a calcium-sensitive manner.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Cadherins / analysis
  • Cadherins / genetics*
  • Cadherins / metabolism*
  • Cell Line
  • Cochlea / cytology
  • Cochlea / metabolism*
  • DNA-Binding Proteins / analysis
  • DNA-Binding Proteins / genetics*
  • DNA-Binding Proteins / metabolism*
  • Gene Expression
  • Hair Cells, Auditory / cytology
  • Hair Cells, Auditory / metabolism
  • Hearing
  • Humans
  • Kidney / cytology
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Mice, Knockout
  • Nuclear Proteins / analysis
  • Nuclear Proteins / genetics*
  • Nuclear Proteins / metabolism*
  • Protein Structure, Tertiary
  • Two-Hybrid System Techniques
  • Vesicular Transport Proteins / genetics
  • Vesicular Transport Proteins / metabolism

Substances

  • Cadherins
  • Cdh23 protein, mouse
  • DNA-Binding Proteins
  • EHD4 protein, mouse
  • Ehd1 protein, mouse
  • Nuclear Proteins
  • Vesicular Transport Proteins