Gating-spring stiffness increases outer-hair-cell bundle stiffness, damping, and receptor current

In our ears, outer-hair-cell bundles (OHBs) convert sound-induced forces into receptor currents that drive cochlear amplification, the process responsible for the micropascal-scale threshold and million-fold dynamic range of hearing. OHBs rely on gating springs to open mechanoelectrical-transduction (MET) ion channels, through which the receptor current flows. OHBs have larger gating-spring stiffnesses than other types of hair bundles, but we have a poor understanding of how gating-spring stiffness contributes to OHB mechanics and receptor-current regulation. Using experimentally-constrained mathematical models of the OHB, we show that the increased gating-spring stiffness in an OHB increases its stiffness and damping. The OHB's 3D morphology reduces the contribution of gating-spring stiffness to OHB stiffness, reduces the contribution of MET-channel gating to OHB stiffness and damping, but causes additional OHB damping that rises with gating-spring stiffness. Gating-spring stiffnes..., Mathematical modeling code was written in Mathematica 13.3 and the data from the code was saved in mx files. The data from the mx files was exported to CSV files, which can be read using free software., , # Gating-Spring Stiffness Increases Outer-Hair-Cell Bundle Stiffness, Damping, and Receptor Current

[https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.bnzs7h4kz](https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.bnzs7h4kz)

## Description of the data and file structure

Simulation data was created using mathematical models. The data is available in the mx files and is in Wolfram Language serialized package format. This data can be read-in by the corresponding code files nb, which can be opened using Mathematical 13.3 or later. The data in the mx files is also available in csv files, which can be opened as a text files. The nb files can also be opened using the freely available Wolfram Player.

### Files and variables

Three types of mathematical models of outer-hair-cell bundles are included.

3DOHB.nb contains the code for the wild-type outer-hair-cell bundle 3D model.
3DOHB_012624.mx contains the data for the wild-type outer-hair-cell bundle 3D model.
3DOHB_012624.CSV contains the data for the wild-type outer-hair-cell bun...