Fig. 10: Summary of role for TUBB4B in hearing.

Tubb4b knockout mice are profoundly deaf due to defects in both middle and inner ear (middle panel). In the middle ear, lack of TUBB4B leads to defective motile cilia causing otitis media, indicating an essential role for TUBB4B in motile cilia development and/or maintenance (left panel). In the inner ear, TUBB4B deficiency results in disorganized and reduced microtubules in pillar cells, suggesting a critical role for TUBB4B in providing mechanical support for auditory transmission through the cochlea (right panel).