[GJB6 gene mutation analysis in Chinese nonsyndromic deaf population].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the contribution of GJB6 gene (encoding connexin 30) mutation in Chinese population with sporadic non-syndromic hearing impairment. METHOD: Three hundred and seventy-two nonsyndromic hearing impairment patients and 182 normal controls were first tested for GJB6 del(GJB6 > D13S1830) using specific PCR primers. Then PCR was performed with a pair of primer flanking the whole coding sequence of GJB6 gene. Sequencing of GJB6 whole coding sequence PCR products was subsequently applied in all subjects with hearing loss and normal controls. RESULT: None of the patients and normal controls carried GJB6 del (GJB6 > D13S1830). Two single base pair changes were detected , one in the patient group and the other in the control group. The mutation found in the patient group was not detected in the control subjects. CONCLUSION: Mutation of GJB6 gene is not frequent in Chinese non-syndromic hearing-loss population. Screening for GJB6 gene can be ranked as unconventional deaf gene test in China temporarily.