LMO4 functions as a negative regulator of sensory organ formation in the mammalian cochlea

Min Deng, Xiong Jian Luo, Ling Pan, Hua Yang, Xiaoling Xie, Guoqing Liang, Liang Huang, Fang Hu, Amy E. Kiernan, Lin Gan

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

19 Scopus citations

Abstract

In mammals, formation of the auditory sensory organ (the organ of Corti) is restricted to a specialized area of the cochlea. However, the molecular mechanisms limiting sensory formation to this discrete region in the ventral cochlear duct are not well understood, nor is it known whether other regions of the cochlea have the competence to form the organ of Corti. Here we identify LMO4, a LIM-domain-only nuclear protein, as a negative regulator of sensory organ formation in the cochlea. Inactivation ofLmo4in mice leads to an ectopic organ of Corti (eOC) located in the lateral cochlea. The eOC retains the features of the native organ, including inner and outer hair cells, supporting cells, and other nonsensory specialized cell types. However, the eOC shows an orientation opposite to the native organ, such thatthe eOC appears as a mirror-image duplication to the native organ ofCorti. These data demonstrate a novel sensory competentregion in the lateral cochlear duct that is regulated by LMO4 and may be amenable to therapeutic manipulation.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)10072-10077
Number of pages6
JournalJournal of Neuroscience
Volume34
Issue number30
DOIs
StatePublished - 2014
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Cochlea
  • Inner ear development
  • LIM-domain
  • LMO4
  • Organ of Corti
  • Transcriptional regulator

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Neuroscience

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