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Updated: Apr 28, 2026
Dextran Labeling and Uptake in Live and Functional Murine Cochlear Hair Cells
Published on: February 8, 2020
Mutations of TMC1 cause deafness by disrupting mechanoelectrical transduction
Hiroshi Nakanishi1, Kiyoto Kurima1, Yoshiyuki Kawashima2
1Molecular Biology and Genetics Section, National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD), NIH, 35A Convent Dr, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA.
Objective:
Mutations of transmembrane channel-like 1 gene (TMC1) can cause dominant (DFNA36) or recessive (DFNB7/B11) deafness. In this article, we describe the characteristics of DFNA36 and DFNB7/B11 deafness, the features of the Tmc1 mutant mouse strains, and recent advances in our understanding of TMC1 function.
Methods:
Publications related to TMC1, DFNA36, or DFNB7/B11 were identified through PubMed.
Results:
All affected DFNA36 subjects showed post-lingual, progressive, sensorineural hearing loss (HL), initially affecting high frequencies. In contrast, almost all affected DFNB7/B11 subjects demonstrated congenital or prelingual severe to profound sensorineural HL. The mouse Tmc1 gene also has dominant and recessive mutant alleles that cause HL in mutant strains, including Beethoven, deafness, and Tmc1 knockout mice. These mutant mice have been instrumental for revealing that Tmc1 and its closely related paralog Tmc2 are expressed in cochlear and vestibular hair cells, and are required for hair cell mechanoelectrical transduction (MET). Recent studies suggest that TMC1 and TMC2 may be components of the long-sought hair cell MET channel.
Conclusion:
TMC1 mutations disrupt hair cell MET.
