Robert Fettiplace

The First Step in Hearing: Mechanotransduction by Auditory Hair Cells

Research Strengths: Molecular Neuroscience, Perception and Movement

My research focuses on the physiology of hair cells isolated from the inner ear and studied with patch clamp recording and optical imaging. This research has provided descriptions of the mechanosensory transduction mechanism, the membrane channels involved in frequency tuning, and the regulatory roles of intracellular calcium. My current interest lies with the outer hair cells of the mammalian cochlea, the mechanotransducer channels and the mechanism of force generation by the stereociliary bundle that may underlie amplification and tuning of the auditory signal.

Selected Publications:

Beurg, M., R. Fettiplace, J-H. Nam, and A.J. Ricci. 2009. Localization of inner hair cell mechanotransducer channels using high speed calcium imaging. Nature Neuroscience 12:553-558. [PDF]
Beurg, M., J-H. Nam, A.C. Crawford, and R. Fettiplace. 2008. The effects of calcium on hair bundle mechanics in mammalian cochlear hair cells. Biophys. J. 94:2639-53. [PDF]
Beurg, M., M.G. Evans, C.M. Hackney, and R. Fettiplace. 2006. A large-conductance calcium-selective mechanotransducer channel in mammalian cochlear hair cells. J. Neuroscience 26:10992-1100. [PDF]
Fettiplace, R. and C.M. Hackney. 2006. The sensory and motor roles of auditory hair cells. Nature Reviews Neuroscience 7:19-29. [PDF]
Kennedy, H.J, A.C. Crawford, and R. Fettiplace. 2005. Force generation by mammalian hair bundles supports a role in cochlear amplification. Nature 433: 880-883.
Ricci, A.J., A.C. Crawford, and R. Fettiplace. 2003. Tonotopic variation in the conductance of the hair cell mechanotransducer channel. Neuron 40: 983-990.
Fettiplace, R. and A.J. Ricci. 2003. Adaptation in auditory hair cells. Curr. Op. Neurobiol. 13: 446-451.
Kennedy, H.J., M.G. Evans, A.C. Crawford and R. Fettiplace. 2003. Fast adaptation of mechanoelectrical transducer channels in mammalian cochlear hair cells. Nat. Neurosci. 6: 832-836.
Fettiplace, R., A.J. Ricci, and C.M. Hackney. 2001. Clues to the cochlear amplifier from the turtle ear. Trends Neurosci. 24: 176-181. [PDF]
Ricci, A.J., A.C. Crawford, and R. Fettiplace. 2000. Active hair bundle motion linked to fast transducer adaptation in auditory hair cells. J. Neurosci. 20: 7131-7142. [PDF]
Fettiplace, R. and P.A. Fuchs. 1999. Mechanisms of hair cell tuning. Ann. Rev. Physiol. 61: 809-834. [PDF]


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Robert Fettiplace The First Step in Hearing: Mechanotransduction by Auditory Hair Cells E-mail: fettiplace@physiology.wisc.edu Research Strengths: Molecular Neuroscience, Perception and Movement My research focuses on the physiology of hair cells isolated from the inner ear and studied with patch clamp recording and optical imaging. This research has provided descriptions of the mechanosensory transduction mechanism, the membrane channels involved in frequency tuning, and the regulatory roles of intracellular calcium. My current interest lies with the outer hair cells of the mammalian cochlea, the mechanotransducer channels and the mechanism of force generation by the stereociliary bundle that may underlie amplification and tuning of the auditory signal. Selected Publications: Beurg, M., R. Fettiplace, J-H. Nam, and A.J. Ricci. 2009. Localization of inner hair cell mechanotransducer channels using high speed calcium imaging. Nature Neuroscience 12:553-558. [PDF] Beurg, M., J-H. Nam, A.C. Crawford, and R. Fettiplace. 2008. The effects of calcium on hair bundle mechanics in mammalian cochlear hair cells. Biophys. J. 94:2639-53. [PDF] Beurg, M., M.G. Evans, C.M. Hackney, and R. Fettiplace. 2006. A large-conductance calcium-selective mechanotransducer channel in mammalian cochlear hair cells. J. Neuroscience 26:10992-1100. [PDF] Fettiplace, R. and C.M. Hackney. 2006. The sensory and motor roles of auditory hair cells. Nature Reviews Neuroscience 7:19-29. [PDF] Kennedy, H.J, A.C. Crawford, and R. Fettiplace. 2005. Force generation by mammalian hair bundles supports a role in cochlear amplification. Nature 433: 880-883. Ricci, A.J., A.C. Crawford, and R. Fettiplace. 2003. Tonotopic variation in the conductance of the hair cell mechanotransducer channel. Neuron 40: 983-990. Fettiplace, R. and A.J. Ricci. 2003. Adaptation in auditory hair cells. Curr. Op. Neurobiol. 13: 446-451. Kennedy, H.J., M.G. Evans, A.C. Crawford and R. Fettiplace. 2003. Fast adaptation of mechanoelectrical transducer channels in mammalian cochlear hair cells. Nat. Neurosci. 6: 832-836. Fettiplace, R., A.J. Ricci, and C.M. Hackney. 2001. Clues to the cochlear amplifier from the turtle ear. Trends Neurosci. 24: 176-181. [PDF] Ricci, A.J., A.C. Crawford, and R. Fettiplace. 2000. Active hair bundle motion linked to fast transducer adaptation in auditory hair cells. J. Neurosci. 20: 7131-7142. [PDF] Fettiplace, R. and P.A. Fuchs. 1999. Mechanisms of hair cell tuning. Ann. Rev. Physiol. 61: 809-834. [PDF]

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