Figure 2.

Gross morphology of stereociliary bundles remains intact in tmc1/2a/2b triple mutants. Hair cell-specific expression of Tg(myo6b:β-Actin-mEGFP-pA) fluorescently labels actin-filled stereocilia in tmc1/2a/2b triple mutants and WT siblings. A, In vivo confocal microscopy of lateral cristae (side view) reveals no bundle splaying or other obvious defects of bundle morphology in tmc1/2a/2b triple-mutant larvae (5 dpf). Scale bar, 2.5 μm. B, Three-dimensional surface rendering of confocal z stacks demonstrates two distinct bundle height groups in centrally located mature hair cells, regardless of genotype. These bundle heights correspond to two hair-cell types in the cristae. Fluorescent patches at the base of bundles are labeling of actin filaments in the cuticular plate. Scale bar, 2 μm.