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Part 2

Research Hypotheses

Rolling rubric for all STRC/DFNB16 hypotheses, Misha-centric. Each scored 1–5 on Mechanism (M), Delivery (D), Misha-fit (F). Tier ≈ min(M, D, F). This page mirrors ~/STRC/hypotheses/index.md — the canonical register.

18 hypotheses 2 S-tier 2 killed updated 2026-04-28
S-tier Primary — active compute now 2
A-tier Active backburner — advances when S blocked 1
B-tier Watch — incremental engagement 2
#4
M3 · D2 · F2

STRC mRNA-LNP Strategy B Full-Length

Summary: mRNA encoding STRC delivered via cochlear LNP; intraductal dosing avoids AAV packaging limits and enables repeat administration.

Next: No fast compute-to-S path; keep as AAV maintenance/interim only unless new OHC-LNP tropism data reaches therapeutic population coverage

No detail page yet

#6
M2 · D2 · F2

STRC mRNA Therapy Hypothesis

Summary: Protein-replacement via direct mRNA to OHCs with OHC-tropic LNP formulation (variant of h04 emphasising tropism).

Next: No fast compute-to-S path; needs primary OHC RBM24 titration/Sun 2026 quantification before another model can change tier

No detail page yet

C-tier Paused — awaiting external catalyst 11
#2
M2 · D1 · F5

STRC Piezoelectric TM Bioelectronic Amplifier

Summary: PVDF-TrFE nanofilm on OHC-apical membrane drives prestin via extracellular piezoelectric field; bypasses native STRC entirely.

Next: Blocked on literature — V_saturation, OHC membrane resistance, 210 kPa Young's modulus all unsourced; TM displacement 5–30 nm is in-house assumption. No compute advance until primary lit retrieved.

No detail page yet

#5
M3 · D4 · F2

STRC Calcium Oscillation Acoustic Therapy

Summary: Chronic 45-60 dB sound via hearing aid drives AC1-CREB signaling → endogenous STRC upregulation (Touch Grass as therapy).

Next: Blocked — 6 load-bearing parameters without primary lit (STRC mRNA t½, STRC protein t½, STRC copy #/OHC, CRE K_half, PDE4 Vmax OHC, CaMKII k_auto). Three require own wet-lab. No compute advance until own measurements or literature-absence explicitly documented in each script.

No detail page yet

#7
M3 · D2 · F1

Prime Editing for STRC

Summary: PE3b allele-discriminating edit of maternal E1659A locus — killed 2026-04-22 by STRCP1 paralog cross-hybridization on 61/61 pegRNAs.

Next: Wet-lab ribosome-profiling STRCP1

#8
M2 · D3 · F2

STRC ASO Exon Skipping

Summary: Splice-switching ASO targeting cryptic exons E1-E4 — killed 2026-04-22 by STRCP1 paralog cross on 54/54 candidates.

Next: Phase 3a morpholino + 3b gapmer

#10
M2 · D2 · F2

STRC In Situ SpyCatcher Assembly

Summary: Split-SpyCatcher/SpyTag peptide fragments covalently assemble a STRC-equivalent scaffold in perilymph after topical delivery.

Next: Wet-lab only if #3 fails

No detail page yet

#11
M2 · D2 · F2

STRC Engineered TECTA Chimera

Summary: Re-engineer the tectorial membrane to anchor to bundles without STRC, via AAV-delivered TECTA chimera to supporting cells.

Next: Alt scaffold deferred

No detail page yet

#12
M2 · D2 · F2

Sonogenetic STRC Computational Proof

Summary: Sonogenetic stimulation of OHCs using acoustically-gated ion channels (MscL or TRP variants) to restore mechanotransduction.

Next: Speculative; no near-term path

#13
M2 · D1 · F3

STRC Programmable Recombinases

Summary: Seamless recombinase-based editing for DFNB16 (Lilly 2026 cochlear recombinase framework adapted to STRC locus).

Next: Technology-watch only

#14
M2 · D1 · F3

STRC Protein Replacement Therapy

Summary: Direct STRC protein delivery to perilymph via intratympanic injection; bypass genetic intervention entirely.

Next: No delivery route

No detail page yet

#26
M2 · D5 · F4

STRC Engineered Homodimer Avidity

Summary: Single-point mutation (R1581Y/F, S1579W/F) stabilises weak Ultra-Mini homodimer interface → 100-1000× avidity on Mini-STRC with zero new AAV payload.

Next: Paused: Phase 1d A1078C/S1080C/S1579C/A1078W all fail AF3 G1; no further compute unless a new scaffold/interface appears

No detail page yet

#27
M2 · D2 · F4

STRC STRCP1 Activation Rescue

Summary: Reframe STRCP1 paralog identity as asset — CRISPRa activates endogenous STRCP1 as STRC backup; Gate 1 = wet-lab ribosome profiling.

Next: Email Holt lab ribosome-profiling

No detail page yet

D-tier Killed — mechanism falsified or wrong-patient 2
#15
M2 · D2 · F2

STRC OTOA Paralog Cross-Rescue

Summary: Upregulate OTOA (STRC paralog) to take over HTC/TM anchor function — chimera avenue killed on Cα RMSD 13.78 Å (ARM region).

Next: Chimera dead; upregulation weak

No detail page yet

#16
M3 · D2 · F1

STRC ZP Domain Prion-Like Seeding

Summary: Low-dose WT STRC templates Misha's folded E1659A monomers into mixed fibrils (prion-like cross-templating seeding therapy).

Next: Wrong patient (paternal 98kb Δ)

No detail page yet