Proteins long known to be essential for hearing have been hiding a talent: they also act as gatekeepers that shuffle fatty ...

A surprising new function of essential hearing proteins may explain why some genetic mutations and common antibiotics lead to permanent deafness.

Researchers at the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders have identified a previously unknown mechanism that destroys the sensory hair cells of the inner ear, a discovery ...

Cell membranes protect and organize cells. All cells have an outer plasma membrane that regulates not only what enters the cell, but also how much of any given substance comes in. Unlike prokaryotes, ...

Researchers discover that hearing-essential proteins (TMC1/TMC2) also regulate cell membranes, and their malfunction is a primary cause of permanent hearing loss.

Researchers describe a natural product-like molecule, Tantalosin, that inhibits interaction between two proteins in complexes that reshape membranes inside the cell. The findings lead to a deeper ...

Researchers shifted the focus to the internal properties of the membrane itself, specifically its viscosity, highlighting its critical role in controlling deformation and dynamics during essential ...

New research shows how important protein keeps our cell membranes in balance. Researchers have studied the structure, function and mechanisms of the protein ATP8B1, which flips lipid molecules in our ...

Our cells are surrounded by a fragile membrane that's only 5 nanometers thick, 1/20 of a soap bubble. Cells are easily damaged by physiological activities, including muscle contraction and tissue ...

‘Tiny biological batteries’ can change the cell membrane’s electrical properties – a discovery that has big implications for health, as many essential cellular processes hinge upon precise electrical ...

Researchers have identified a previously unknown mechanism that drives the death of inner ear hair cells, the tiny sensory structures responsible for converting sound into brain signals. The discovery ...