2E4/Kaptin (KPTN)--a candidate gene for the hearing loss locus, DFNA4.

ABSTRACT: Stereocilia of the inner ear play an integral role in the mechanotransduction of sound. Their structural support is derived from actin filaments and actin-binding proteins. We have identified a novel actin-binding protein, 2E4-kaptin (KPTN), which appears to be involved in this structural network. Using double label immunofluorescence, we now show that KPTN extends beyond the barbed ends of actin filaments at the tips of stereocilia, and using cloned human cDNA, we mapped KPTN to chromosome 19q13.4. A combination of FISH, radiation hybrid mapping and YAC screening localized KPTN between markers D19S412 and NIB1805, making this gene an excellent functional and positional candidate for DFNA4, a form of autosomal dominant non-syndromic hearing loss. We identified a second family with inherite

SUBMITTER: Bearer EL 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3376086 | biostudies-literature | 2000 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature