Protein Mutation Linked to Age-Related Hearing Loss Discovered by Indian Scientists
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Synopsis
Indian scientists have unveiled a mutation in the protein Cadherin-23, which is crucial for hearing. This discovery could pave the way for advanced treatments for age-related hearing loss, impacting millions worldwide.
Key Takeaways
- Discovery of protein mutation linked to hearing loss.
- Cadherin-23 is essential for hearing in vertebrates.
- Mutated protein disrupts sound transmission in the inner ear.
- Potential for new treatments targeting hearing loss.
- Over 1.5 billion people worldwide affected by hearing loss.
New Delhi, April 9 (NationPress) Researchers at the Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER) Mohali in Punjab have discovered a protein mutation that could enhance therapies for hearing loss in the elderly.
The research team concentrated on a defect in Cadherin-23, a crucial protein for hearing in vertebrates.
This protein, located in the hair cells of the inner ear, functions by transforming sound waves into electrical impulses that the brain can understand.
In experiments with mice, the researchers observed that the mutated variant of Cadherin-23 fails to properly unfold, leading to disturbances in sound transmission within the inner ear.
This malfunction resulted in progressive hearing loss among the mice, as reported by the team led by Sabyasachi Rakshit from the institute.
During the investigation, the team employed a magnetic tweezer to apply continuous and oscillatory forces to the protein's three variants: S47, V47 (natural variants), and P47 (mutant).
The results indicated that V47 withstood the highest force and unfolded gradually, demonstrating better resilience to mechanical stress.
In contrast, S47 showed moderate stability, while P47 unfolded rapidly and displayed lower tolerance to stress, making it more prone to remaining unfolded, which is linked to hearing loss.
Moreover, when subjected to repetitive force pulses mimicking natural mechanical stimuli in hearing, P47 showed diminished capacity to endure repeated mechanical strains. These findings reveal a molecular foundation for hearing challenges later in life.
Published in the journal Nature Communications, the results may be instrumental in developing treatments for hearing loss by addressing the protein anomaly, the researchers noted.
However, they emphasized that while these findings could clarify mechanisms of human hearing loss, they likely do not reflect the entire scenario.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), over 1.5 billion individuals (almost 20 percent of the global population) experience hearing loss, with 430 million suffering from disabling hearing loss.
