Objective To report a novel deafness-causing mutation c. 465T→A, p. Y155X in connexin 26 (CX26) (also called gap junction protein β-2, GJB2 ), and perform functional analysis of the mutated protein p. Y155X in Hela cells to explore the underlying mechanism on deafness. Methods Mutations in CX26 gene of the proband in an autosomal recessive inherited deafness family were tested by direct DNA sequencing method. Mutant p. Y155X, which was found in the deafness family, and wild type CX26 (wtCX26), were directionally subcloned into the pEGFP-N1 plasmid to construct the recombinant fusion protein expression vector of CX26 p. Y155X-EGFP and wtCX26-EGFP, followed by transfecting into HeLa cells. The expression of the mutated and wild type proteins was analyzed using Western blot analysis. The intracellular localization of proteins and the formation of gap junction-like plaques at plasma membrane were observed under confocal microscope. Gap junction coupling was tested by calcein-AM dye transfer experiment. Results A novel nonsense mutation c. 465T→A, p. Y155X in the CX26 gene was found in the autosomal recessive deafness family. The molecular weight of protein p. Y155X was smaller than that of wtCX26 in transiently expressed HeLa cells. The mutated protein failed to reach the cell surface to form gap junction plaques, and displayed cytoplasmic accumulation. Also, no calcein-AM dye was transferred from the donor cells to the recipient cells when both were transfected with CX26 p. Y155X. The wtCX26 protein localized at the cell membrane to form gap junction plaques with permeability to fluorescent dye calcein-AM. Conclusion CX26 p. Y155X could not be targeted to the plasma membrane and there was no formation of gap junction channels between the adjacent cells. The mutation c. 465T→A, p. Y155X in CX26 gene was responsible for the autosomal recessive hearing impairment in this family.%目的 观察连接蛋白(connexin 26,CX26)基因的一个新致聋突变c.465T→A,P.Y155X,在体外表达细胞功能的改变,以探讨其致聋的可能机理.方法 常染色体隐性遗传耳聋家系的先证者外周血抽提DNA,DNA直接测序法分析CX26基因突变.将在该家系发现的突变c.465T→A,P.Y155X和野生型CX26(wtCX26)定向克隆到pEGFP-N1质粒,构建CX26 p.Y155X-EGFP及wtCX26-EGFP融合蛋白表达载体,转染HeLa细胞,Western印迹分析蛋白的表达,共聚焦显微镜观察突变蛋白和野生型CX26在HeLa细胞的定位及有无间隙连接斑形成,染料转移实验分析间隙连接的功能.结果 在该耳聋家系发现CX26基因一个新的致聋突变:c.465T→A,P.Y155X.CX26 P.Y155X突变体在HeLa细胞表达的突变蛋白的分子量小于野生型蛋白分子量;突变蛋白在细胞质表达,不能分布到细胞膜和形成间隙连接,无染料转移.野生型表达于细胞膜并形成间隙连接斑,能转移染料.结论 CX26 P.Y155X突变体在翻译后不能从细胞内转运到细胞膜,不能形成间隙连接通道.CX26基因c.465T→A,P.Y155X导致常染色体隐性遗传性聋.
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