The murine catecholamine methyltransferase mTOMT is essential for mechanotransduction by cochlear hair cells.

Hair cells of the cochlea are mechanosensors for the perception of sound. Mutations in the gene, which encodes a protein with homology to the catecholamine methyltransferase COMT that is linked to schizophrenia, cause deafness. Here, we show that , the murine ortholog of , has an unexpected function in the regulation of mechanotransduction by hair cells.