United States scientists recently discovered that the human ear cochlea in a protein molecule mutate can cause deafness. This new discovery will understand deafness pathology provide new clues.
Sound waves are transmitted to the inner ear cochlea, causes the vibration, stimulation of basement membrane film on the hair cells, the nerve impulses and transmitted to the brain. University of Illinois research experts at the hearing in the experiment found that when the hair cells in a protein named espin mutate, hair cells within the filament protein bundles will become the "soft", weaken the hair cells of the transmission capacity of vibration, causing hearing loss. Espin is a typical connection protein, common cochlear hair cells and other human sensory cells.
Researchers also found that the variation of some proteins into espin normal protein, blocking filament protein bundle structure change. The researchers therefore considers that, if through genetic engineering methods, activate control espin protein synthesis of DNA, even if only a small part of the normal protein, it is possible to restore some degree of hearing loss.
The research results published in the latest issue of the United States the physical review newsletter weekly.
No comments:
Post a Comment