- Mutations in the gene encoding pejvakin, a newly identified protein of the afferent auditory pathway, cause DFNB59 auditory neuropathy. Delmaghani, S., del Castillo, F.J., Michel, V., Leibovici, M., Aghaie, A., Ron, U., Van Laer, L., Ben-Tal, N., Van Camp, G., Weil, D., Langa, F., Lathrop, M., Avan, P., Petit, C. Nat. Genet. (2006)