Stereocilin is expressed in the sensory hair cells and is associated with the stereocilia, the stiff microvilli forming the structure for mechanoreception of sound stimulation [1-3]. It is essential for the formation of horizontal top connectors in hair cells, which leads to deafness when it is defective [2,3]. This is a large secreted protein containing a large leucine-rich region [1].

1: Otogelin, otogelin-like, and stereocilin form links connecting outer hair cell stereocilia to each other and the tectorial membrane. Avan P, Le Gal S, Michel V, Dupont T, Hardelin JP, Petit C, Verpy E; Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2019;116:25948-25957. PMID:31776257

2: Mutations in a new gene encoding a protein of the hair bundle cause non-syndromic deafness at the DFNB16 locus. Verpy E, Masmoudi S, Zwaenepoel I, Leibovici M, Hutchin TP, Del Castillo I, Nouaille S, Blanchard S, Laine S, Popot JL, Moreno F, Mueller RF, Petit C; Nat Genet. 2001;29:345-349. PMID:11687802

3: Stereocilin connects outer hair cell stereocilia to one another and to the tectorial membrane. Verpy E, Leibovici M, Michalski N, Goodyear RJ, Houdon C, Weil D, Richardson GP, Petit C; J Comp Neurol. 2011;519:194-210. PMID:21165971