Pathophysiology associated with a single gene (MASS 1) mutation underlying the robust audiogenic seizure phenotype in frings mice

Abstract

The present invention relates to a novel gene which is associated with audiogenic seizures in mice. The gene is known as the Monogenic Audiogenic Seizure-susceptible gene or mass1. The product of the mass1 gene is designated MASS1. Nucleic acid molecules that encode for MASS I have been identified and purified. The sequence of murine mass1 can be found at SEQ ID NO: 1, and the sequence of human mass1 can be found at SEQ ID NO: 3. Mammalian genes encoding a MASS1 protein are also provided. The invention also provides recombinant vectors comprising nucleic acid molecules that code for a MASS1 protein. These vectors can be plasmids. In certain embodiments, the vectors are prokaryotic or eukaryotic expression vectors. The nucleic acid coding for MASS1 can be linked to a heterologous promoter. The invention also relates to transgenic animals in which one or both alleles of the endogenous mass1 gene is mutated. The invention further relates to a hearing impairment associated with the Frings MASS1 mutation. More specifically, the invention characterizes a moderate and non-progressive hearing impairment which leads to the development of audiogenic seizures.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.