Physico-chemical characterization of the native and mutant protein cochlin, and its role in adult-onset hearing and balance loss

This thesis investigates the role of the protein cochlin and its isoforms in DFNA9 autosomal dominant late onset senorineural loss and vestibular disorder by quantifying the concentration of cochlin in the inner fluid called perilymph. Through the use of affinity chromatography, high performance liquid chromatography, the Bradford assay, western blot analysis, and proteomics analysis by mass spectroscopy, I acquired data which suggests that the concentration of cochlin in the perilymph of bovine calf ears is at most on the order of 10- mg/ml. I also determined the total protein concentration of native bovine perilymph to be 2.1+0.2 mg/ml. Additionally, I discuss the theory of quasielastic light scattering along with its relevance to understanding the role of cochlin in DFNA9.

Department dc:contributor.department

Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Dept. of Physics.

Grantor dc:publisher

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Year dc:date.issued

2009

Author dc:creator

• Grannan, Benjamin L. (Benjamin Lucas)

Advisor dc:contributor.advisor

• George B. Benedek.

• Physics.

Statement dc:rights

• M.I.T. theses are protected by copyright. They may be viewed from this source for any purpose, but reproduction or distribution in any format is prohibited without written permission. See provided URL for inquiries about permission.

Licence dc:rights.uri

• http://dspace.mit.edu/handle/1721.1/7582

Language dc:language.iso

eng

Handle dc:identifier.uri

http://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/51602

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:dspace.mit.edu:1721.1/51602