Tectorin Beta (TECTb)

The genes for alpha-tectorin and beta-tectorin encode the major noncollagenous proteins of the tectorial membrane of the cochlea.The mouse beta-tectorin gene encodes a 320-amino acid protein containing a hydrophobic secretory signal sequence and 4 potential N-glycosylation sites. Both alpha- and beta-tectorin contain a zona pellucida domain, but otherwise are not homologous.A second group of proteins abundant in the inner ear included 5 additional types of collagen. A third group, including COCH5B2 (COCH) and ear-specific connexin, comprised the proteins whose human equivalents are candidates to account for hearing disorders. This last group also included proteins expressed in 2 cells types unique to the inner ear, homogene cells and cells of the tegmentum vasculosum.