scholarly journals Biosynthesis and vectorial transport of opsin on vesicles in retinal rod photoreceptors.

1986 ◽  
Vol 34 (1) ◽  
pp. 5-16 ◽  
Author(s):  
D S Papermaster ◽  
B G Schneider ◽  
D DeFoe ◽  
J C Besharse

Retinal rod photoreceptor cells absorb light at one end and establish synaptic contacts on the other. Light sensitivity is conferred by a set of membrane and cytosol proteins that are gathered at one end of the cell to form a specialized organelle, the rod outer segment (ROS). The ROS is composed of rhodopsin-laden, flattened disk-shaped membranes enveloped by the cell's plasma membrane. Rhodopsin is synthesized on elements of the rough endoplasmic reticulum and Golgi apparatus near the nucleus in the inner segment. From this synthetic site, the membrane-bound apoprotein, opsin, is released from the Golgi in the membranes of small vesicles. These vesicles are transported through the cytoplasm of the inner segment until they reach its apical plasma membrane. At that site, opsin-laden vesicles appear to fuse near the base of the connecting cilium that joins the inner and outer segments. This fusion inserts opsin into the plasma membrane of the photoreceptor. Opsin becomes incorporated into the disk membrane by a process of membrane expansion and fusion to form the flattened disks of the outer segment. Within the disks, opsin is highly mobile, and rapidly rotates and traverses the disk surface. Despite its mobility in the outer segment, quantitative electron microscopic, immunocytochemical, and autoradiographic studies of opsin distribution demonstrate that little opsin is detectable in the inner segment plasma membrane, although its bilayer is in continuity with the plasma membrane of the outer segment. The photoreceptor successfully establishes the polarized distribution of its membrane proteins by restricting the redistribution of opsin after vectorially transporting it to one end of the cell on post-Golgi vesicles.

1984 ◽  
Vol 98 (5) ◽  
pp. 1788-1795 ◽  
Author(s):  
I Nir ◽  
D Cohen ◽  
D S Papermaster

Mature retinal rod photoreceptors sequester opsin in the disk and plasma membranes of the rod outer segment (ROS). Opsin is synthesized in the inner segment and is transferred to the outer segment along the connecting cilium that joins the two compartments. We have investigated early stages of retinal development during which the polarized distribution of opsin is established in the rod photoreceptor cell. Retinas were isolated from newborn rats, 3-21 d old, and incubated with affinity purified biotinyl-sheep anti-bovine opsin followed by avidin-ferritin. At early postnatal ages prior to the development of the ROS, opsin is labeled by antiopsin on the inner segment plasma membrane. At the fifth postnatal day, as ROS formation begins opsin was detected on the connecting cilium plasma membrane. However, the labeling density of the ciliary plasma membrane was not uniform: the proximal cilium was relatively unlabeled in comparison with the distal cilium and the ROS plasma membrane. In nearly mature rat retinas, opsin was no longer detected on the inner segment plasma membrane. A similar polarized distribution of opsin was also observed in adult human rod photoreceptor cells labeled with the same antibodies. These results suggest that some component(s) of the connecting cilium and its plasma membrane may participate in establishing and maintaining the polarized distribution of opsin.


1992 ◽  
Vol 103 (1) ◽  
pp. 157-166
Author(s):  
D.F. Matesic ◽  
N.J. Philp ◽  
J.M. Murray ◽  
P.A. Liebman

Bovine rod outer segment (ROS) preparations contain a major 58 kDa protein doublet that was identified by immunoblot as tubulin. Quantification by gel densitometry showed that the total amount of tubulin was 5- to 10-fold higher than that attributable to the rod axoneme, suggesting additional role(s) for tubulin in photoreceptor cells. Approximately 20% of this nonaxonemal tubulin (15% of total tubulin) is tightly associated with outer segment membranes. This fraction remains membrane-associated after extensive low- or high-salt washing, requiring detergents or protein denaturants for release from ROS membranes. Unlike ROS soluble tubulin it associates tightly with liposomes upon detergent solubilization and reconstitution. The ROS membrane-associated tubulin is highly enriched in isolated ROS plasma membrane fractions compared to the total outer segment membrane pool and can be localized to the plasma membrane but not to disks by immunofluorescent staining, suggesting a possible role in the structure or electrophysiology of the rod outer segment plasma membrane.


2011 ◽  
Vol 64 (5) ◽  
pp. 611 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zachary D. Schultz

Raman vibrational spectroscopic imaging was performed on retinal rod cells isolated from bullfrogs (Rana catesbeiana). The Raman spectra enable determination of the lipid and protein rich rod outer segment (ROS) from the nucleus and inner segment of the cell. Peak fitting analysis of spectra obtained from individual rod photoreceptor cells show characteristic vibrational modes that can be associated with cholesterol and docosahexaenoic acid-containing lipids. These results provide direct observations of biomolecular gradients in the rod photoreceptor cells, which, thus far, have been based on indirect detergent extracts and histochemical analysis with indicators such as filipin. The detected biomolecules are associated with regulation of the integral membrane protein rhodopsin, and methods capable of direct observation of these biomolecules offer new routes to exploring their role in the regulation of cellular processes.


1992 ◽  
Vol 116 (3) ◽  
pp. 659-667 ◽  
Author(s):  
K Arikawa ◽  
L L Molday ◽  
R S Molday ◽  
D S Williams

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.


1973 ◽  
Vol 21 (5) ◽  
pp. 488-498 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. E. POELMANN ◽  
W. T. DAEMS ◽  
E. J. VAN LOHUIZEN

This cytochemical and electron microscopic study on peritoneal macrophages of the guinea pig has raised doubts concerning the validity of lead methods for the demonstration of plasma membrane-bound adenosine triphosphatase activity. The problems encountered are inherent in the use of lead ions as a capture reagent. The nonenzymatically formed precipitates reflect sites of heterogeneous nucleation specific for certain kinds of cells, e.g., resident peritoneal macrophages, eosinophilic granulocytes and, to a lesser degree, exudate monocytes. This type of precipitation is also catalyzed on the surface of nonbiologic matrices such as latex particles. Enzymatic processes may well occur, but they cannot be distinguished from nonenzymatic processes.


2002 ◽  
Vol 13 (12) ◽  
pp. 4221-4230 ◽  
Author(s):  
Liyu Tu ◽  
Tung-Tien Sun ◽  
Gert Kreibich

Much of the lower urinary tract, including the bladder, is lined by a stratified urothelium forming a highly differentiated, superficial umbrella cell layer. The apical plasma membrane as well as abundant cytoplasmic fusiform vesicles of the umbrella cells is covered by two-dimensional crystals that are formed by four membrane proteins named uroplakins (UPs) Ia, Ib, II, and III. UPs are synthesized on membrane-bound polysomes, and after several co- and posttranslational modifications they assemble into planar crystals in a post-Golgi vesicular compartment. Distension of the bladder may cause fusiform vesicles to fuse with the apical plasma membrane. We have investigated the early stages of uroplakin assembly by expressing the four uroplakins in 293T cells. Transfection experiments showed that, when expressed individually, only UPIb can exit from the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and move to the plasma membrane, whereas UPII and UPIII reach the plasma membrane only when they form heterodimeric complexes with UPIa and UPIb, respectively. Heterodimer formation in the ER was confirmed by pulse-chase experiment followed by coimmunoprecipitation. Our results indicate that the initial building blocks for the assembly of crystalline uroplakin plaques are heterodimeric uroplakin complexes that form in the ER.


1992 ◽  
Vol 40 (12) ◽  
pp. 1827-1835 ◽  
Author(s):  
S M Laurie ◽  
M B Mixon ◽  
J D Castle

Using a monoclonal antibody (SG10A6) raised against secretion granule membranes of the rat parotid gland, we have identified an antigen that is a common component of both exocrine pancreatic and parotid granule membranes. SG10A6 (an IgM) immunoprecipitates antigen that migrates as a single band (M(r) approximately 80 KD unreduced; M(r) approximately 100 KD reduced) and immunoblots at least two polypeptides that are similar to the reduced and nonreduced immunoprecipitated antigen. This granule-associated membrane polypeptide (GRAMP 100; named for the apparent M(r) in reduced form) is also a prominent component of plasma membrane fractions. Immunocytochemical localization at the electron microscopic level demonstrates the presence of GRAMP 100 on granule membranes, especially condensing vacuoles and exocytotic figures, and the apical plasma membrane. Lower levels of antigen are detected on basolateral plasma membrane and on peri-Golgi membranes that may be part of the endosomal system. Both the cell fractionation and immunocytochemical localization indicate that GRAMP 100 differs in distribution from GRAMP 92 and 30K SCAMPs, two other components of exocrine granule membranes identified with monoclonal antibodies. To date, no polypeptides have been identified with this approach that are exclusive components of exocrine granule membranes.


1984 ◽  
Vol 32 (8) ◽  
pp. 834-838 ◽  
Author(s):  
N D Das ◽  
R J Ulshafer ◽  
Z S Zam ◽  
V R Leverenz ◽  
H Shichi

Two monoclonal antibodies (RSA1/83 and RSA2/83) were developed against a homogeneous preparation of bovine retinal S-antigen. The two hybridomas produced by mouse X mouse hybrid myeloma cells secrete immunoglobulin G. Indirect autoradiography on glutaraldehyde-fixed preparations of bovine explants was used to locate the antigenic site. Antibody RSA1/83 recognizes the antigen primarily in the apical region of the rod outer segment, while antibody RSA2/83 located the antigen both in the outer and inner segments of the rod photoreceptor cells. A distinct band of silver grains also appeared along the inner limiting membrane with both antibodies. Control explants showed no specific labeling pattern over the various retinal compartments.


Physiology ◽  
2010 ◽  
Vol 25 (1) ◽  
pp. 8-15 ◽  
Author(s):  
Brian M. Kevany ◽  
Krzysztof Palczewski

Photoreceptor cells maintain a roughly constant length by continuously generating new outer segments from their base while simultaneously releasing mature outer segments engulfed by the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE). Thus postmitotic RPE cells phagocytose an immense amount of material over a lifetime, disposing of photoreceptor cell waste while retaining useful content. This review focuses on current knowledge of outer segment phagocytosis, discussing the steps involved along with their critical participants as well as how various perturbations in outer segment (OS) disposal can lead to retinopathies.


1973 ◽  
Vol 58 (3) ◽  
pp. 650-661 ◽  
Author(s):  
Matthew M. LaVail

The kinetics of rod outer segment renewal in the developing retina have been investigated in C57BL/6J mice. Litters of mice were injected with [3H]amino acids at various ages and killed at progressively later time intervals. Plastic 1.5 µm sections of retina were studied by light microscope autoradiography. The rate of outer segment disk synthesis, as judged by labeled disk displacement away from the site of synthesis, is slightly greater than the adult level at 11–13 days of age; it rises to more than 1.6 times the adult rate between days 13 and 17, after which it falls to the adult level at 21–25 days. The rate of disk disposal, as measured by labeled disk movement toward the site of disposal, is less than 15% of the adult level at 11–13 days of age; it rises sharply to almost 70% of the adult level by days 13–15 and then more gradually approaches the adult rate. The net difference in rates of synthesis and disposal accounts for the rapid elongation of rod outer segments in the mouse between days 11 and 17 and the subsequent, more gradual elongation to the adult equilibrium length reached between days 19 and 25. The changing rate of outer segment disk synthesis characterizes the late stages of cytodifferentiation of the rod photoreceptor cells.


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