scholarly journals Retinal degeneration in mice expressing the constitutively active G90D rhodopsin mutant

2020 ◽  
Vol 29 (6) ◽  
pp. 881-891 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alejandro T Colozo ◽  
Sreelakshmi Vasudevan ◽  
Paul S-H Park
Keyword(s):  
Retinal Degeneration ◽  
Night Blindness ◽  
Photoreceptor Cells ◽  
Active Species ◽  
Rod Photoreceptor ◽  
Constitutive Activity ◽  
Congenital Stationary Night Blindness ◽  
Independent Manner ◽  
Multiple Species ◽  
Constitutively Active

Abstract Rhodopsin is the G protein-coupled receptor in rod photoreceptor cells that initiates vision upon photon capture. The light receptor is normally locked in an inactive state in the dark by the covalently bound inverse agonist 11-cis retinal. Mutations can render the receptor active even in the absence of light. This constitutive activity can desensitize rod photoreceptor cells and lead to night blindness. A G90D mutation in rhodopsin causes the receptor to be constitutively active and leads to congenital stationary night blindness, which is generally thought to be devoid of retinal degeneration. The constitutively active species responsible for the night blindness phenotype is unclear. Moreover, the classification as a stationary disease devoid of retinal degeneration is also misleading. A transgenic mouse model for congenital stationary night blindness that expresses the G90D rhodopsin mutant was examined to better understand the origin of constitutive activity and the potential for retinal degeneration. Heterozygous mice for the G90D mutation did not exhibit retinal degeneration whereas homozygous mice exhibited progressive retinal degeneration. Only a modest reversal of retinal degeneration was observed when transducin signaling was eliminated genetically, indicating that some of the retinal degeneration occurred in a transducin-independent manner. Biochemical studies on purified rhodopsin from mice indicated that multiple species can potentially contribute to the constitutive activity causing night blindness.

scholarly journals Localization of peripherin/rds in the disk membranes of cone and rod photoreceptors: relationship to disk membrane morphogenesis and retinal degeneration.

1992 ◽  
Vol 116 (3) ◽  
pp. 659-667 ◽  
Author(s):  
K Arikawa ◽  
L L Molday ◽  
R S Molday ◽  
D S Williams
Keyword(s):  
Plasma Membrane ◽  
Retinal Degeneration ◽  
Outer Segment ◽  
Photoreceptor Cells ◽  
Growth Stages ◽  
Rod Outer Segments ◽  
Rod Photoreceptor ◽  
Outer Segments ◽  
Disk Membrane ◽  
Membrane Morphogenesis

The outer segments of vertebrate rod photoreceptor cells consist of an ordered stack of membrane disks, which, except for a few nascent disks at the base of the outer segment, is surrounded by a separate plasma membrane. Previous studies indicate that the protein, peripherin or peripherin/rds, is localized along the rim of mature disks of rod outer segments. A mutation in the gene for this protein has been reported to be responsible for retinal degeneration in the rds mouse. In the present study, we have shown by immunogold labeling of rat and ground squirrel retinas that peripherin/rds is present in the disk rims of cone outer segments as well as rod outer segments. Additionally, in the basal regions of rod and cone outer segments, where disk morphogenesis occurs, we have found that the distribution of peripherin/rds is restricted to a region that is adjacent to the cilium. Extension of its distribution from the cilium coincides with the formation of the disk rim. These results support the model of disk membrane morphogenesis that predicts rim formation to be a second stage of growth, after the first stage in which the ciliary plasma membrane evaginates to form open nascent disks. The results also indicate how the proteins of the outer segment plasma membrane and the disk membranes are sorted into their separate domains: different sets of proteins may be incorporated into membrane outgrowths during different growth stages of disk morphogenesis. Finally, the presence of peripherin/rds protein in both cone and rod outer segment disks, together with the phenotype of the rds mouse, which is characterized by the failure of both rod and cone outer segment formation, suggest that the same rds gene is expressed in both types of photoreceptor cells.

scholarly journals Mutant rab8 Impairs Docking and Fusion of Rhodopsin-bearing Post-Golgi Membranes and Causes Cell Death of TransgenicXenopus Rods

2001 ◽  
Vol 12 (8) ◽  
pp. 2341-2351 ◽  
Author(s):  
Orson L. Moritz ◽  
Beatrice M. Tam ◽  
Larry L. Hurd ◽  
Johan Peränen ◽  
Dusanka Deretic ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Retinal Degeneration ◽  
Membrane Trafficking ◽  
Fusion Proteins ◽  
Fluorescent Protein ◽  
Photoreceptor Cells ◽  
Dominant Negative ◽  
Wild Type ◽  
Golgi Membranes ◽  
Constitutively Active

Rab8 is a GTPase involved in membrane trafficking. In photoreceptor cells, rab8 is proposed to participate in the late stages of delivery of rhodopsin-containing post-Golgi membranes to the plasma membrane near the base of the connecting cilium. To test the function of rab8 in vivo, we generated transgenic Xenopus laevis expressing wild-type, constitutively active (Q67L), and dominant negative (T22N) forms of canine rab8 in their rod photoreceptors as green fluorescent protein (GFP) fusion proteins. Wild-type and constitutively active GFP-rab8 proteins were primarily associated with Golgi and post-Golgi membranes, whereas the dominant negative protein was primarily cytoplasmic. Expression of wild-type GFP-rab8 had minimal effects on cell survival and intracellular structures. In contrast, GFP-rab8T22N caused rapid retinal degeneration. In surviving peripheral rods, tubulo-vesicular structures accumulated at the base of the connecting cilium. Expression of GFP-rab8Q67L induced a slower retinal degeneration in some tadpoles. Transgene effects were transmitted to F1 offspring. Expression of the GFP-rab8 fusion proteins appears to decrease the levels of endogenous rab8 protein. Our results demonstrate a role for rab8 in docking of post-Golgi membranes in rods, and constitute the first report of a transgenic X. laevismodel of retinal degenerative disease.

scholarly journals Effect of Sodium Valproate on the Conformational Stability of the Visual G Protein-Coupled Receptor Rhodopsin

Molecules ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 26 (10) ◽  
pp. 3032
Author(s):  
Neda Razzaghi ◽  
Pol Fernandez-Gonzalez ◽  
Aina Mas-Sanchez ◽  
Guillem Vila-Julià ◽  
Juan Jesus Perez ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Retinitis Pigmentosa ◽  
Retinal Degeneration ◽  
G Protein ◽  
Sodium Valproate ◽  
Conformational Stability ◽  
Photoreceptor Cells ◽  
Rod Photoreceptor ◽  
G Protein Coupled Receptor ◽  
Rhodopsin Mutations ◽  
G Protein Coupled

Rhodopsin is the G protein-coupled receptor of rod photoreceptor cells that mediates vertebrate vision at low light intensities. Mutations in rhodopsin cause inherited retinal degenerative diseases such as retinitis pigmentosa. Several therapeutic strategies have attempted to address and counteract the deleterious effect of rhodopsin mutations on the conformation and function of this photoreceptor protein, but none has been successful in efficiently preventing retinal degeneration in humans. These approaches include, among others, the use of small molecules, known as pharmacological chaperones, that bind to the receptor stabilizing its proper folded conformation. Valproic acid, in its sodium valproate form, has been used as an anticonvulsant in epileptic patients and in the treatment of several psychiatric disorders. More recently, this compound has been tested as a potential therapeutic agent for the treatment of retinal degeneration associated with retinitis pigmentosa caused by rhodopsin mutations. We now report on the effect of sodium valproate on the conformational stability of heterologously expressed wild-type rhodopsin and a rhodopsin mutant, I307N, which has been shown to be an appropriate model for studying retinal degeneration in mice. We found no sign of enhanced stability for the dark inactive conformation of the I307N mutant. Furthermore, the photoactivated conformation of the mutant appears to be destabilized by sodium valproate as indicated by a faster decay of its active conformation. Therefore, our results support a destabilizing effect of sodium valproate on rhodopsin I307N mutant associated with retinal degeneration. These findings, at the molecular level, agree with recent clinical studies reporting negative effects of sodium valproate on the visual function of retinitis pigmentosa patients.

Ayurvedic management of Retinitis Pigmentosa (Doshandha) - A Case Study

2017 ◽  
Vol 2 (05) ◽  
Author(s):  
Anju D. ◽  
Pushpa Raj Poudel ◽  
Ajoy Viswam ◽  
Ashwini M. J.
Keyword(s):  
Retinitis Pigmentosa ◽  
Low Vision ◽  
Symptomatic Relief ◽  
Retinal Dystrophy ◽  
Treatment Protocol ◽  
Signs And Symptoms ◽  
Photoreceptor Cells ◽  
Rod Photoreceptor ◽  
Night Time ◽  
Initial Symptoms

Retinitis pigmentosa (RP) is an inherited, degenerative eye disease that causes severe vision impairment due to the progressive degeneration of rod photoreceptor cells in retina. This form of retinal dystrophy manifests initial symptoms independentof age; thus, RP diagnosis occurs anywhere from early infancy to late adulthood. This primary pigmentary retinal dystrophy is a hereditary disorder predominantly affecting the rods more than the cones. The main classical triads of retinitis pigmentosa are arteriolar attenuation, Retinal bone spicule pigmentation and Waxy disc pallor. The main treatment of retinitis pigmentosa is by using Low vision aids (LVA) and Genetic counseling. As such a complete cure for retinitis pigmentosa is not present. So a treatment protocol has to be adopted that helps in at least the symptomatic relief. In Ayurveda, the signs and symptoms of this can be compared with the Lakshanas of Doshandha which is one among the Dristigata Roga. It is considered as a diseased condition in which sunset will obliterate the Dristi Mandala and makes the person blind at night time. During morning hours the rising sunrays will disperse the accumulated Dosas from Dristi to clear vision. This disease resembles Kaphajatimira in its pathogenesis, but the night blindness is the special feature. Since the disease is purely Kaphaja, a treatment attempt is planned in Kaphara and Brimhana line. The present paper discusses a case of retinitis pigmentosa and it’s Ayurvedic Treatment.

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