TECTA : tectorin alpha
Description
The TECTA (tectorin alpha) is a protein-coding gene located on chromosome 11.
The TECTA gene provides instructions for making alpha-tectorin, a protein found in the tectorial membrane of the inner ear's cochlea. This membrane helps convert sound waves into nerve impulses that are sent to the brain for processing. Alpha-tectorin is a large protein with multiple domains that interact with other proteins to form the tectorial membrane. These interactions are essential for normal hearing.
The TECTA gene encodes alpha-tectorin, a major non-collagenous protein in the tectorial membrane. This membrane, located in the inner ear's cochlea, covers the sensory hair cells and their stereocilia bundles. When sound waves travel through the cochlea, they cause the hair cells to move relative to the tectorial membrane, bending the stereocilia. This bending alters the hair cell's membrane potential, converting sound into electrical signals that are sent to the brain.
TECTA is also known as DFNA12, DFNA8, DFNB21.
Associated Diseases
- Deafness, autosomal recessive 21
- Deafness, autosomal dominant nonsyndromic sensorineural 12
- Nonsyndromic hearing loss
