![]() ![]() Proteomic studies have shown that roughly 37% of human protein-coding genes encode multiple isoforms, allowing the 20,000 genes in the genome to produce more than 290,000 peptides ( Kim et al., 2014). A complete picture of the formation and maintenance of molecular diversity in the cochlea requires consideration of post-transcriptional regulation as well. Transcriptional control, however, is only one aspect of genetic regulation. Single cell RNA-sequencing techniques are now revealing transcriptomic heterogeneity with unprecedented resolution ( Kelley, 2022). Conditional knockout studies and transcriptomic analyses have identified key transcription factors governing cochlear development ( Elliott et al., 2021). How does the cochlea achieve its distinct anatomy, and how is its remarkable cellular diversity created and maintained? Until now, efforts to address these questions have focused largely on regulation at the transcription level. All these constituents of the mature cochlea are generated from the otocyst, a spherical and seemingly homogenous population of epithelial cells. Its function depends on the intricate organization of its myriad cell types, including mechanosensory hair cells (HCs), more than five types of supporting cells (SCs), and many other non-sensory cells that contribute to the survival and function of the sensory cells. The cochlea is a highly specialized organ responsible for hearing. Efforts toward this end will help clarify how the remarkable diversity of the cochlear transcriptome is both established and maintained. Recent technological breakthroughs offer exciting prospects for overcoming some of the long-standing hurdles that have complicated the analysis of alternative splicing in the cochlea. Although the regulatory mechanisms controlling alternative splicing in the cochlea are poorly characterized, there are animal models with defective splicing regulators that demonstrate the importance of RNA-binding proteins in maintaining cochlear function and cell survival. All these clues point to an essential role for alternative splicing in shaping the unique molecular landscape of the cochlea. Clinical phenotypes that arise from mutations affecting specific splice variants testify to the functional relevance of these isoforms. Some isoforms are expressed specifically in the cochlea, while some show differential expression across the various cochlear cell types and anatomical regions. ![]() Many molecules important for hearing, such as cadherin 23 or harmonin, undergo alternative splicing to produce functionally distinct isoforms. Alternative splicing is one of the most prevalent and well-characterized post-transcriptional regulatory mechanisms. Until now, the molecular underpinnings of its specializations have mostly been studied from a transcriptional perspective, but accumulating evidence points to post-transcriptional regulation as a major source of molecular diversity. The cochlea is a complex organ comprising diverse cell types with highly specialized morphology and function. 3Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea.2Brain Korea 21 Project for Medical Science, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea.1Department of Anatomy, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea.It does not store any personal data.Kwan Soo Kim 1,2, Hei Yeun Koo 1 and Jinwoong Bok 1,2,3* The cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance". This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary". The cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional". The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics". ![]() These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly.
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