The goal of this project is to discover new genes for hearing loss by identifying inherited mutations in multiplex families. Targeted DNA capture and massively parallel sequencing technologies will be used to identify mutations in the deaf population of the Middle East, including 270 Israeli Jews and 212 Palestinian Arabs. We will explore the physiological processes underlying deafness using mouse mutants. This project will be led and directed by Karen Avraham (Tel Aviv) and Moien Kanaan (Bethlehem), who have worked together for 15 years with 11 joint publications on genetic deafness and 2 reviews on peace building through scientific collaboration. Discovery and characterization of new genes for hearing impairment involves five aims.
In AIM 1, we will fully sequence 192 affected individuals for 246 genes for syndromic and non-syndromic hearing loss, in humans and mice, with a custom 1.6 MB design of cRNA oligonucleotides. We will use a multiplex barcoding strategy and sequence on an Illumina GAIIx Genome Analyzer. Mutations will be validated by Sanger sequencing.
In AIM 2, homozygosity mapping using the Affymetrix 6.0 array will be conducted for families not resolved in Aim 1. In addition to identifying homozygous regions, SNP data will be analyzed to detect homozygous CNVs.
In AIM 3, exome sequencing will be carried out and variants that map within homozygous regions, obtained from Aim 2, will be evaluated first. For families with no extended homozygous regions, variants exome-wide will be evaluated for compound heterozygosity. One flow cell lane will be run for each proband.
In AIM 4, the targeted pools of Aim 1 will be revised to include new genes for screening of all unresolved probands, familial or sporadic. Clinical features of hearing loss will be compared across mutations and genes.
In AIM 5, newly identified proteins will be characterized by expression analysis in lymphoblastoid cell lines, protein-specific functional assays, silencing or overexpression by viral transfection in cochlear cultures;, protein localization throughout development of wildtype mice;hearing and vestibular testing, and inner ear morphology, including high-resolution scanning electron microscopy, in mouse models for human deafness Discovery of new deafness genes will allow for early clinical diagnosis, enabling prediction of phenotypes and enhanced rehabilitation, in particular for children. Characterization of critical proteins will enable a comprehensive understanding of the biological mechanisms involved in pathophysiology of hearing loss.

Public Health Relevance

The goal of this project is to identify new mutations and genes responsible for inherited hearing loss using state-of-the-art genomic tools such as DNA capture and massively parallel sequencing technologies. Middle Eastern family structure facilitates identification of these genes, which may be present in other populations in the world and thus have far reaching consequences, including in the United States. The research will lead toward enhanced clinical diagnostics, a biological understanding of a comprehensive list of proteins involved in auditory function, and a potential for development of therapeutics for deafness.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
4R01DC011835-03
Application #
8471540
Study Section
Genetics of Health and Disease Study Section (GHD)
Program Officer
Watson, Bracie
Project Start
2011-07-01
Project End
2016-06-30
Budget Start
2013-07-01
Budget End
2014-06-30
Support Year
3
Fiscal Year
2013
Total Cost
$202,693
Indirect Cost
$15,014
Name
Tel Aviv University
Department
Type
DUNS #
600048417
City
Tel Aviv
State
Country
Israel
Zip Code
69978
Danial-Farran, Nada; Brownstein, Zippora; Gulsuner, Suleyman et al. (2018) Genetics of hearing loss in the Arab population of Northern Israel. Eur J Hum Genet 26:1840-1847
Perl, Kobi; Shamir, Ron; Avraham, Karen B (2018) Computational analysis of mRNA expression profiling in the inner ear reveals candidate transcription factors associated with proliferation, differentiation, and deafness. Hum Genomics 12:30
Yizhar-Barnea, Ofer; Valensisi, Cristina; Jayavelu, Naresh Doni et al. (2018) DNA methylation dynamics during embryonic development and postnatal maturation of the mouse auditory sensory epithelium. Sci Rep 8:17348
Yizhar-Barnea, Ofer; Avraham, Karen B (2017) Single cell analysis of the inner ear sensory organs. Int J Dev Biol 61:205-213
Ushakov, Kathy; Koffler-Brill, Tal; Rom, Aviv et al. (2017) Genome-wide identification and expression profiling of long non-coding RNAs in auditory and vestibular systems. Sci Rep 7:8637
Marcotti, Walter; Corns, Laura F; Goodyear, Richard J et al. (2016) The acquisition of mechano-electrical transducer current adaptation in auditory hair cells requires myosin VI. J Physiol 594:3667-81
Bhonker, Yoni; Abu-Rayyan, Amal; Ushakov, Kathy et al. (2016) The GPSM2/LGN GoLoco motifs are essential for hearing. Mamm Genome 27:29-46
Koffler, Tal; Ushakov, Kathy; Avraham, Karen B (2015) Genetics of Hearing Loss: Syndromic. Otolaryngol Clin North Am 48:1041-61
Sokolov, Meirav; Brownstein, Zippora; Frydman, Moshe et al. (2014) Apparent phenotypic anticipation in autosomal dominant connexin 26 deafness. J Basic Clin Physiol Pharmacol 25:289-92
Dror, Amiel A; Lenz, Danielle R; Shivatzki, Shaked et al. (2014) Atrophic thyroid follicles and inner ear defects reminiscent of cochlear hypothyroidism in Slc26a4-related deafness. Mamm Genome 25:304-16

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