Beta-tectorin; One of the major non-collagenous components of the tectorial membrane (By similarity). The tectorial membrane is an extracellular matrix of the inner ear that covers the neuroepithelium of the cochlea and contacts the stereocilia bundles of specialized sensory hair cells. Sound induces movement of these hair cells relative to the tectorial membrane, deflects the stereocilia and leads to fluctuations in hair- cell membrane potential, transducing sound into electrical signals.

Stereocilin; Essential to the formation of horizontal top connectors between outer hair cell stereocilia.

Carcinoembryonic antigen-related cell adhesion molecule 19.

Thrombospondin-type laminin G domain and EAR repeat-containing protein; Plays a critical role in tooth and hair follicle morphogenesis through regulation of the Notch signaling pathway. May play a role in development or function of the auditory system.

Lipoxygenase homology domain-containing protein 1; Required for normal function of hair cells in the inner ear.

Otogelin-like protein.

Otogelin; Glycoprotein specific to acellular membranes of the inner ear. May be required for the anchoring of the otoconial membranes and cupulae to the underlying neuroepithelia in the vestibule. May be involved in the organization and/or stabilization of the fibrillar network that compose the tectorial membrane in the cochlea. May play a role in mechanotransduction processes.

Whirlin; Involved in hearing and vision as member of the USH2 complex. Necessary for elongation and maintenance of inner and outer hair cell stereocilia in the organ of Corti in the inner ear. Involved in the maintenance of the hair bundle ankle region, which connects stereocilia in cochlear hair cells of the inner ear. In retina photoreceptors, required for the maintenance of periciliary membrane complex that seems to play a role in regulating intracellular protein transport.

Espin; Multifunctional actin-bundling protein. Plays a major role in regulating the organization, dimension, dynamics and signaling capacities of the actin filament-rich microvilli in the mechanosensory and chemosensory cells. Required for the assembly and stabilization of the stereociliary parallel actin bundles. Plays a crucial role in the formation and maintenance of inner ear hair cell stereocilia. Involved in the elongation of actin in stereocilia. In extrastriolar hair cells, required for targeting MYO3B to stereocilia tips, and for regulation of stereocilia diameter and staircas [...]