TMC1 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Aliases | TMC1 , DFNA36, DFNB11, DFNB7, transmembrane channel like 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
External IDs | OMIM: 606706 MGI: 2151016 HomoloGene: 23670 GeneCards: TMC1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Wikidata | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Transmembrane channel-like protein 1 is a protein that in humans is encoded by the TMC1 gene. [5] [6] [7] TMC1 contains six transmembrane domains with both the C and N termini on the endoplasmic side of the membrane, as well as a large loop between domains 4 and 5. This topology is similar to that of transient receptor potential channels (TRPs), [5] a family of proteins involved in the perception of senses such as temperature, taste, pressure, and vision. [8] TMC1 has been located in the post-natal mouse cochlea, [5] and knockouts for TMC1 and TMC2 result in both auditory and vestibular deficits (hearing loss and balance issues) indicating TMC1 is a molecular part of auditory transduction. [9]
This gene is considered a member of a gene family predicted to encode transmembrane proteins. Until recently, the specific function of this gene was relatively unknown; it was only known to be required for normal function of cochlear hair cells. [7] However, new research suggests that TMC1 interacts with Tip link proteins protocadherin 15 and cadherin 23 indicating that TMC1, along with TMC2, are necessary proteins for hair cell mechanotransduction. [10] Specifically, TMC1 and TMC2 may be two pore-forming subunits of the channel that responds to tip link deflection in hair cells. [11]
Due to its implication in cochlear hair cell function and its interaction with hair cell tip links, TMC1 is being mutated and manipulated in order to better understand the receptor while at the same time producing a molecular model for deafness. While deafness can arise at any stage of auditory processing, DFNA36 (a type of progressive hearing loss) and DFNB7/B11 (congenital hearing loss) have been specifically shown to arise from TMC1 mutations. DFNA36 results from a dominant missense mutation and DFNB7/B11 results from a recessive mutation. [5] Both have been modeled in mice, known as the Beethoven model and the dn model respectively. [6] The TMC1 gene is located on chromosome 9q31-q21, and the dominant mutation associated with DFNA36 occurs at amino acid 572 [12] which suggests the importance of this amino acid in the overall function of TMC1. Now that TMC1 has been shown to interact with the tip link proteins PCDH15 and CDH23, [10] the next question may be whether or not amino acid 572 is necessary for TMC1 tip link interactions.
Researchers reported in 2015 that genetically deaf mice treated with TMC1 gene therapy recovered some of their hearing. [13] [14]
Mutations in this gene have been associated with progressive postlingual hearing loss, non syndromic deafness [15] and profound prelingual deafness. [7] TMC1 mutations are not associated with other symptoms or abnormalities, which is known as Nonsyndromic hearing loss and indicates that TMC1 functions mainly in auditory sensation. [16] Additionally, recessive mutations of the gene result in both a loss of TMC1 function as well as profound deafness [12] indicating TMC1 function is necessary for the processing of auditory signals.
In the inner ear, stereocilia are the mechanosensing organelles of hair cells, which respond to fluid motion in numerous types of animals for various functions, including hearing and balance. They are about 10–50 micrometers in length and share some similar features of microvilli. The hair cells turn the fluid pressure and other mechanical stimuli into electric stimuli via the many microvilli that make up stereocilia rods. Stereocilia exist in the auditory and vestibular systems.
Nonsyndromic deafness is hearing loss that is not associated with other signs and symptoms. In contrast, syndromic deafness involves hearing loss that occurs with abnormalities in other parts of the body. Genetic changes are related to the following types of nonsyndromic deafness.
Gap junction beta-2 protein (GJB2), also known as connexin 26 (Cx26) — is a protein that in humans is encoded by the GJB2 gene.
Harmonin is a protein that in humans is encoded by the USH1C gene. It is expressed in sensory cells of the inner ear and retina, where it plays a role in hearing, balance, and vision. Mutations at the USH1C locus cause Usher syndrome type 1c and nonsyndromic sensorineural deafness.
Cadherin-23 is a protein that in humans is encoded by the CDH23 gene.
Gap junction beta-6 protein (GJB6), also known as connexin 30 (Cx30) — is a protein that in humans is encoded by the GJB6 gene. Connexin 30 (Cx30) is one of several gap junction proteins expressed in the inner ear. Mutations in gap junction genes have been found to lead to both syndromic and nonsyndromic deafness. Mutations in this gene are associated with Clouston syndrome.
Wolframin is a protein that in humans is encoded by the WFS1 gene.
Transmembrane protease, serine 3 is an enzyme that in humans is encoded by the TMPRSS3 gene.
Potassium voltage-gated channel subfamily KQT member 4, also known as voltage-gated potassium channel subunit Kv7.4, is a protein that in humans is encoded by the KCNQ4 gene.
Alpha-tectorin is a protein that in humans is encoded by the TECTA gene.
Eyes absent homolog 4 is a protein that in humans is encoded by the EYA4 gene.
Otoferlin is a protein that in humans is encoded by the OTOF gene.
Transmembrane channel-like protein 2 is a protein that in humans is encoded by the TMC2 gene.
Myosin-XV is a protein that in humans is encoded by the MYO15A gene.
Transmembrane channel-like 8 is a protein which in humans is encoded by the TMC8 gene.
miR-96 microRNA precursor is a small non-coding RNA that regulates gene expression. microRNAs are transcribed as ~80 nucleotide precursors and subsequently processed by the Dicer enzyme to give a ~23 nucleotide products. In this case the mature sequence comes from the 5′ arm of the precursor. The mature products are thought to have regulatory roles through complementarity to mRNA.
Espin, also known as autosomal recessive deafness type 36 protein or ectoplasmic specialization protein, is a protein that in humans is encoded by the ESPN gene. Espin is a microfilament binding protein.
Lipoxygenase homology domains 1 is a protein in humans that is encoded by the LOXHD1 gene.
Leucine rich transmembrane and O-methyltransferase domain containing is a protein that in humans is encoded by the LRTOMT gene.
Pejvakin is a protein that in humans is encoded by the PJVK gene.