251
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Abstract
The cone dystrophies are a heterogeneous group of inherited disorders that result in dysfunction of the cone photoreceptors and sometimes their post-receptoral pathways. The major clinical features of cone dystrophy are photophobia, reduced visual acuity and abnormal colour vision. Ganzfeld electroretinography shows reduced or absent cone responses. On the basis of their natural history, the cone dystrophies may be broadly divided into two groups: stationary and progressive cone dystrophies. The stationary cone dystrophies have received more attention, and subsequently our knowledge of their molecular genetic, psychophysical and clinical characteristics is better developed. Various methods of classification have been proposed for the progressive cone dystrophies, but none is entirely satisfactory, largely because the underlying disease mechanisms are poorly understood. Multidisciplinary studies involving clinical assessment, molecular genetics, electrophysiology and psychophysics should lead to an improved understanding of the pathogenesis of these disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- M P Simunovic
- Department of Experimental Psychology, University of Cambridge, UK
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252
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Hughes AE, Lotery AJ, Silvestri G. Fine localisation of the gene for central areolar choroidal dystrophy on chromosome 17p. J Med Genet 1998; 35:770-2. [PMID: 9733038 PMCID: PMC1051432 DOI: 10.1136/jmg.35.9.770] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/04/2022]
Abstract
Central areolar choroidal dystrophy (CACD) is a retinal disease which causes progressive profound loss of vision in patients during middle age. The disease is inherited as an autosomal dominant trait and shows genetic heterogeneity. Mutations in the peripherin-RDS gene on chromosome 6 have been reported in affected members of families transmitting the disease. A new locus at chromosome 17p13 was identified recently by a genome wide linkage search in members of a large Northern Irish family. We now report the refinement of the critical region for this gene to an interval of approximately 5 cM flanked by polymorphic markers D17S1810 and CHLC GATA7B03.
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Affiliation(s)
- A E Hughes
- Division of Molecular Medicine, The Queen's University of Belfast, UK
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253
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Yano S, Oda K, Watanabe Y, Watanabe S, Matsuishi T, Kojima K, Abe T, Kato H. Two sib cases of Leber congenital amaurosis with cerebellar vermis hypoplasia and multiple systemic anomalies. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 1998. [DOI: 10.1002/(sici)1096-8628(19980806)78:5<429::aid-ajmg7>3.0.co;2-g] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022]
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254
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Gehrig A, Felbor U, Kelsell RE, Hunt DM, Maumenee IH, Weber BH. Assessment of the interphotoreceptor matrix proteoglycan-1 (IMPG1) gene localised to 6q13-q15 in autosomal dominant Stargardt-like disease (ADSTGD), progressive bifocal chorioretinal atrophy (PBCRA), and North Carolina macular dystrophy (MCDR1). J Med Genet 1998; 35:641-5. [PMID: 9719369 PMCID: PMC1051388 DOI: 10.1136/jmg.35.8.641] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
Abstract
We have recently characterised the genomic organisation of a novel interphotoreceptor matrix proteoglycan, IMPG1, and have mapped the gene locus to chromosome 6q13-q15 by fluorescence in situ hybridisation. As the interphotoreceptor matrix (IPM) is thought to play a critical role in retinal adhesion and the maintenance of photoreceptor cells, it is conceivable that a defect in one of the IPM components may cause degenerative lesions in retinal structures and thus may be associated with human retinopathies. By genetic linkage analysis, several retinal dystrophies including one form of autosomal dominant Stargardt-like macular dystrophy (STGD3), progressive bifocal chorioretinal atrophy (PBCRA), and North Carolina macular dystrophy (MCDR1) have previously been localised to a region on proximal 6q that overlaps the IMPG1 locus. We have therefore assessed the entire coding region of IMPG1 by exon amplification and subsequent single stranded conformational analysis in patients from 6q linked multigeneration families diagnosed with PBCRA and MCDR1, as well as a single patient from an autosomal dominant STGD pedigree unlinked to either of the two known STGD2 and STGD3 loci on chromosomes 13q and 6q, respectively. No disease associated mutations were identified. In addition, using an intragenic polymorphism, IMPG1 was excluded by genetic recombination from both the PBCRA and the MCDR1 loci. However, as the autosomal dominant Stargardt-like macular dystrophies are genetically heterogeneous, other forms of this disorder, in particular STGD3 previously linked to 6q, may be caused by mutations in IMPG1.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Gehrig
- Institut für Humangenetik, Biozentrum, Universität Würzburg, Germany
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255
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Abstract
Since its discovery in 1963, cyclic GMP (cGMP) has been shown to be a ubiquitous second messenger. The enzymes that catalyze the formation of cGMP from GTP, guanylyl cyclases, exist in soluble and particulate isoforms. An explosion in the number of known isoforms, gene disruption, identification of new inhibitors and activators and finally the resolution of the structure of adenylyl cyclases have all provided important clues about the structure and function of guanylyl cyclases. This article gives a brief review of the recent developments in the field of guanylyl cyclase research.
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Affiliation(s)
- B J Wedel
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute and Department of Pharmacology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75235-9050, USA
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256
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Perrault I, Rozet JM, Gerber S, Kelsell RE, Souied E, Cabot A, Hunt DM, Munnich A, Kaplan J. A retGC-1 mutation in autosomal dominant cone-rod dystrophy. Am J Hum Genet 1998; 63:651-4. [PMID: 9683616 PMCID: PMC1377325 DOI: 10.1086/301985] [Citation(s) in RCA: 61] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/03/2022] Open
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257
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Dizhoor AM, Boikov SG, Olshevskaya EV. Constitutive activation of photoreceptor guanylate cyclase by Y99C mutant of GCAP-1. Possible role in causing human autosomal dominant cone degeneration. J Biol Chem 1998; 273:17311-4. [PMID: 9651312 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.273.28.17311] [Citation(s) in RCA: 126] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
Photoreceptor membrane guanylate cyclases (RetGC) are regulated by calcium-binding proteins, GCAP-1 and GCAP-2. At Ca2+ concentrations below 100 nM, characteristic of light-adapted photoreceptors, guanylate cyclase-activating protein (GCAPs) activate RetGC, and at free Ca2+ concentrations above 500 nM, characteristic of dark-adapted photoreceptors, GCAPs inhibit RetGC. A mutation, Y99C, in human GCAP-1 was recently found to be linked to autosomal dominant cone dystrophy in a British family (Payne, A. M., Downes, S. M., Bessant, D. A. R., Taylor, R., Holder, G. E., Warren, M. J., Bird, A. C., and Bhattachraya, S. S. (1998) Hum. Mol. Genet. 7, 273-277). We produced recombinant Y99C GCAP-1 mutant and tested its ability to activate RetGC in vitro at various free Ca2+ concentrations. The Y99C mutation does not decrease the ability of GCAP-1 to activate RetGC. However, RetGC stimulated by the Y99C GCAP-1 remains active even at Ca2+ concentration above 1 microM. Hence, the cyclase becomes constitutively active within the whole physiologically relevant range of free Ca2+ concentrations. We have also found that the Y99C GCAP-1 can activate RetGC even in the presence of Ca2+-loaded nonmutant GCAPs. This is consistent with the fact that cone degeneration was dominant in human patients who carried such mutation (Payne, A. M., Downes, S. M., Bessant, D. A. R. , Taylor, R., Holder, G. E., Warren, M. J., Bird, A. C., and Bhattachraya, S. S. (1998) Hum. Mol. Genet. 7, 273-277). A similar mutation, Y104C, in GCAP-2 results in a different phenotype. This mutation apparently does not affect Ca2+ sensitivity of GCAP-2. Instead, the Y104C GCAP-2 stimulates RetGC less efficiently than the wild-type GCAP-2. Our data indicate that cone degeneration associated with the Y99C mutation in GCAP-1 can be a result of constitutive activation of cGMP synthesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- A M Dizhoor
- Department of Ophthalmology/Kresge Eye Institute, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, Michigan 48201, USA.
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258
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Kelsell RE, Gregory-Evans K, Payne AM, Perrault I, Kaplan J, Yang RB, Garbers DL, Bird AC, Moore AT, Hunt DM. Mutations in the retinal guanylate cyclase (RETGC-1) gene in dominant cone-rod dystrophy. Hum Mol Genet 1998; 7:1179-84. [PMID: 9618177 DOI: 10.1093/hmg/7.7.1179] [Citation(s) in RCA: 160] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
The dominant cone-rod dystrophy gene CORD6 has previously been mapped to within an 8 cM interval on chromosome 17p12-p13. The retinal-specific guanylate cyclase gene (RETGC-1), which maps to within this genetic interval and previously was implicated in Leber's congenital amaurosis, was screened for mutations within this family and in a panel of small families and individuals with various cone and cone- rod dystrophy phenotypes. A missense mutation (E837D) was identified in affected members of the CORD6 family, as well as a second missense mutation (R838C) in three other families with dominant cone-rod dystrophy. RETGC-1 is only the fourth gene to be implicated in cone-rod dystrophy and this is the first report of dominant mutations in this gene.
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Affiliation(s)
- R E Kelsell
- Department of Molecular Genetics, Institute of Ophthalmology, University College London, Bath Street, London EC1V 9EL, UK
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259
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Sokal I, Li N, Surgucheva I, Warren MJ, Payne AM, Bhattacharya SS, Baehr W, Palczewski K. GCAP1 (Y99C) mutant is constitutively active in autosomal dominant cone dystrophy. Mol Cell 1998; 2:129-33. [PMID: 9702199 DOI: 10.1016/s1097-2765(00)80121-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 119] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
GCAP1 stimulates photoreceptor guanylate cyclase (GC) in bleached vertebrate photoreceptors when [Ca2+]free decreases but is inactivated when cytoplasmic [Ca2+]free increase after dark adaptation. A Y99C mutation in GCAP1 has recently been found to be associated with autosomal dominant cone dystrophy. We show that the GCAP1(Y99C) mutant and native GCAP1 are highly effective in stimulation of photoreceptor GC1. The Ca2+ sensitivity of the mutant GCAP1, however, is markedly altered, causing reduced but persistent stimulation of GC1 under physiological dark conditions. These results are consistent with a model in which enhanced GC activity in dark-adapted cones leads to elevated levels of cytoplasmic cGMP. Alterations in physiological cGMP levels are also associated with other retinal degenerations, including Leber's congenital amaurosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- I Sokal
- Department of Ophthalmology, School of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle 98195, USA
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260
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Veske A, Nilsson SE, Gal A. Organization of the canine gene encoding the E isoform of retinal guanylate cyclase (cGC-E) and exclusion of its involvement in the inherited retinal dystrophy of the Swedish Briard and Briard-beagle dogs. BIOCHIMICA ET BIOPHYSICA ACTA 1998; 1372:69-77. [PMID: 9651484 DOI: 10.1016/s0005-2736(98)00047-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Intracellular cyclic GMP concentration is known to change in response to a wide variety of agents, including hormones, neurotransmitters or light. In vertebrate photoreceptors, different membrane-bound guanylate cyclase isoforms are responsible for cGMP synthesis and thus directly involved in termination of light signalling via the phototransduction cascade and recovery of the dark state. We have characterized a 4.7 kb long cDNA for the canine retinal guanylate cyclase isoform E (cGC-E) predicting a polypeptide of 1109 amino acids. The genomic structure and the complete sequence of the canine GC-E gene, which consists of 20 exons and spans about 14.5 kb, has also been determined. Northern blot analysis showed that GC-E was expressed in the canine retina as a 4.7 and 6.1 kb large transcript. RT-PCR analysis also detected low expression in cerebrum (occipital lobe). We performed a sequence analysis of the cGC-E gene in animals of a Swedish Briard and Briard-Beagle dog kinship in which an inherited retinal dystrophy is segregating. Several intragenic DNA polymorphisms were identified and used for segregation analysis which excluded cGC-E as a candidate gene for this type of canine retinal dystrophy.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Veske
- Institut für Humangenetik, Universitäts-Krankenhaus Eppendorf, Butenfeld 42, D-22529, Hamburg, Germany
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261
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Rispoli G. Calcium regulation of phototransduction in vertebrate rod outer segments. JOURNAL OF PHOTOCHEMISTRY AND PHOTOBIOLOGY. B, BIOLOGY 1998; 44:1-20. [PMID: 9745724 DOI: 10.1016/s1011-1344(98)00083-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
Abstract
The biochemical events underlying the phototransduction cascade in retinal photoreceptors of vertebrates are now well established, on the basis of a wealth of electrophysiological and biochemical evidence. In this review the Ca2+ regulation of the enzymes that generates the photoreceptor light response is analyzed, as well as the Ca2+ transport across the plasma membrane. Most of the results discussed in the following were collected from electrophysiological experiments.
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Affiliation(s)
- G Rispoli
- INFM, Dipartimento di Biologia dell'Università, Ferrara, Italy.
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262
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Shastry BS. Light, sight and fight for insight. Biochimie 1998; 80:339-41. [PMID: 9672755 DOI: 10.1016/s0300-9084(98)80077-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
The visual processes in the human retina begin with absorption of photons from light. This light energy is converted into electrical stimuli in a series of enzymatic steps which initiates neural responses to light. Therefore, any structural and functional abnormalities in these molecules will likely interfere with signal transduction which may ultimately lead to blindness. A new era began in 1990 with an ultimate goal of redefining and developing new treatments for the photoreceptor disorders by identifying mutations in the genes encoding phototransduction cascade enzymes. As a result of this intense investigation around the world, mutations have now been identified in eight genes, in several retinal dystrophies. Almost all of these genes encode signal transduction enzymes and all are highly expressed in photoreceptor cells. This effort has been further aided by gene disruption technology. Although there are many puzzles that need to be solved, these approaches have given some insight into the genetic eye disorders and will undoubtedly improve our understanding of inherited eye disorders in the future. This improved knowledge may eventually lead to prevention or a cure.
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Affiliation(s)
- B S Shastry
- Eye Research Institute, Oakland University, Rochester, Michigan 48309-4401, USA
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263
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Freund CL, Wang QL, Chen S, Muskat BL, Wiles CD, Sheffield VC, Jacobson SG, McInnes RR, Zack DJ, Stone EM. De novo mutations in the CRX homeobox gene associated with Leber congenital amaurosis. Nat Genet 1998; 18:311-2. [PMID: 9537410 DOI: 10.1038/ng0498-311] [Citation(s) in RCA: 201] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
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264
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Morimura H, Fishman GA, Grover SA, Fulton AB, Berson EL, Dryja TP. Mutations in the RPE65 gene in patients with autosomal recessive retinitis pigmentosa or leber congenital amaurosis. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 1998; 95:3088-93. [PMID: 9501220 PMCID: PMC19699 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.95.6.3088] [Citation(s) in RCA: 318] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 12/31/1997] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
RPE65 is a protein of unknown function expressed specifically by the retinal pigment epithelium. We examined all 14 exons of this gene in 147 unrelated patients with autosomal recessive retinitis pigmentosa (RP), in 15 patients with isolate RP, and in 45 patients with Leber congenital amaurosis (LCA). Sequence anomalies that were likely to be pathogenic were found in two patients with recessive RP, in one patient with isolate RP recategorized as recessive, and in seven patients with LCA. Cosegregation analysis in each available family showed that all affected individuals were either homozygotes or compound heterozygotes and that all unaffected individuals were either heterozygote carriers or homozygous wild type. In one family, there was one instance of a new mutation not present in either parent of the affected individual. In another family, affected members with recessive RP in three branches (i.e., three distinct pairs of parents) were compound heterozygotes for the same two mutations or homozygous for one of them. Based on our results, mutations in the RPE65 gene appear to account for approximately 2% of cases of recessive RP and approximately 16% of cases of LCA.
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Affiliation(s)
- H Morimura
- Ocular Molecular Genetics Institute, Harvard Medical School, Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary, Boston, MA 02114, USA
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265
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Gregory-Evans K, Bhattacharya SS. Genetic blindness: current concepts in the pathogenesis of human outer retinal dystrophies. Trends Genet 1998; 14:103-8. [PMID: 9540407 DOI: 10.1016/s0168-9525(98)01402-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Outer retinal dystrophies are the major causes of incurable blindness in the Western world. Understanding the etiology of retinal dystrophies has improved remarkably over the past decade. A number of genes, such as RHO, PDE-beta, RDS, TIMP3, MYO7A, RETGC1, RPGR, CRX and ABCR, are now known to be particularly important. Characterization of the genetic basis for disease is leading to new concepts of pathogenesis at the molecular and cellular levels. Such detailed understanding of disease processes is also stimulating a renewed interest in therapeutic strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- K Gregory-Evans
- Department of Molecular Genetics, Institute of Ophthalmology (University College London) UK.
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266
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Affiliation(s)
- G H Travis
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75235-9111, USA.
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267
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Semple-Rowland SL, Lee NR, Van Hooser JP, Palczewski K, Baehr W. A null mutation in the photoreceptor guanylate cyclase gene causes the retinal degeneration chicken phenotype. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 1998; 95:1271-6. [PMID: 9448321 PMCID: PMC18742 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.95.3.1271] [Citation(s) in RCA: 103] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/1997] [Accepted: 11/20/1997] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
The retinas of the retinal degeneration (rd) chicken are fully developed and possess normal morphology at hatching but fail to respond to light stimulation. Analyses of retinal cGMP, the internal messenger of phototransduction, show that the amount of cGMP in predegenerate, fully developed rd/rd photoreceptors is 5-10 times less than that seen in normal photoreceptor cells. We show that the low levels of cGMP in rd chicken retina are a consequence of a null mutation in the photoreceptor guanylate cyclase (GC1) gene. Thus, the rd chicken is a model for human Leber's congenital amaurosis. Absence of GC1 in rd retina prevents phototransduction and affects survival of rods and cones but does not interfere with normal photoreceptor development.
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Affiliation(s)
- S L Semple-Rowland
- University of Florida, Department of Neuroscience, College of Medicine and Brain Institute, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA.
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268
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Freund CL, Gregory-Evans CY, Furukawa T, Papaioannou M, Looser J, Ploder L, Bellingham J, Ng D, Herbrick JA, Duncan A, Scherer SW, Tsui LC, Loutradis-Anagnostou A, Jacobson SG, Cepko CL, Bhattacharya SS, McInnes RR. Cone-rod dystrophy due to mutations in a novel photoreceptor-specific homeobox gene (CRX) essential for maintenance of the photoreceptor. Cell 1997; 91:543-53. [PMID: 9390563 DOI: 10.1016/s0092-8674(00)80440-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 380] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
Genes associated with inherited retinal degeneration have been found to encode proteins required for phototransduction, metabolism, or structural support of photoreceptors. Here we show that mutations in a novel photoreceptor-specific homeodomain transcription factor gene (CRX) cause an autosomal dominant form of cone-rod dystrophy (adCRD) at the CORD2 locus on chromosome 19q13. In affected members of a CORD2-linked family, the highly conserved glutamic acid at the first position of the recognition helix is replaced by alanine (E80A). In another CRD family, a 1 bp deletion (E168 [delta1 bp]) within a novel sequence, the WSP motif, predicts truncation of the C-terminal 132 residues of CRX. Mutations in the CRX gene cause adCRD either by haploinsufficiency or by a dominant negative effect and demonstrate that CRX is essential for the maintenance of mammalian photoreceptors.
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Affiliation(s)
- C L Freund
- Department of Genetics, The Research Institute, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
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269
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Marlhens F, Bareil C, Griffoin JM, Zrenner E, Amalric P, Eliaou C, Liu SY, Harris E, Redmond TM, Arnaud B, Claustres M, Hamel CP. Mutations in RPE65 cause Leber's congenital amaurosis. Nat Genet 1997; 17:139-41. [PMID: 9326927 DOI: 10.1038/ng1097-139] [Citation(s) in RCA: 431] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
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270
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Farber DB, Danciger M. Identification of genes causing photoreceptor degenerations leading to blindness. Curr Opin Neurobiol 1997; 7:666-73. [PMID: 9384551 DOI: 10.1016/s0959-4388(97)80087-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
At least 15 genes with defects responsible for various forms of inherited retinal disease involving photoreceptor loss have been identified over the past eight years. Several of the genes were first considered as candidates for study because of their involvement in murine retinal disease, others because of their chromosomal loci. In two cases, novel genes were uncovered by positional cloning. Based on reports of disease loci for which no gene has yet been found, more than twice as many genes remain to be identified in this genetically heterogeneous group of diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- D B Farber
- Jules Stein Eye Institute, University of California at Los Angeles, School of Medicine, Los Angeles, California 90024-7008, USA.
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271
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Gu SM, Thompson DA, Srikumari CR, Lorenz B, Finckh U, Nicoletti A, Murthy KR, Rathmann M, Kumaramanickavel G, Denton MJ, Gal A. Mutations in RPE65 cause autosomal recessive childhood-onset severe retinal dystrophy. Nat Genet 1997; 17:194-7. [PMID: 9326941 DOI: 10.1038/ng1097-194] [Citation(s) in RCA: 414] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
Autosomal recessive childhood-onset severe retinal dystrophy (arCSRD) designates a heterogeneous group of disorders affecting rod and cone photoreceptors simultaneously. The most severe cases are termed Leber congenital amaurosis (LCA), while the less aggressive forms are usually considered juvenile retinitis pigmentosa. Recently, mutations in the retinal-specific guanylate cyclase gene were found in patients with LCA. Disease genes implicated in other forms of arCSRD are expected to encode proteins present in the neuroretina or in the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE). The RPE, a monolayer of cells separating the vascular-rich choroid and the neuroretina, is in intimate contact with the outer segments of rods and cones via the microvilli surrounding the photoreceptors. The RPE expresses a tissue-specific and evolutionarily highly conserved 61 kD protein (RPE65) present at high levels in vivo. Although the function of RPE65 is not yet known, an important role in the RPE/photoreceptor vitamin-A cycle is suggested by the fact that RPE65 associates both with serum retinol-binding protein and with the RPE-specific 11-cis retinol dehydrogenase, an enzyme active in the synthesis of the visual pigment chromophore 11-cis retinal. Here we report that the analysis of RPE65 in a collection of about 100 unselected retinal-dystrophy patients of different ethnic origin revealed five that are likely to be pathogenic mutations, including a missense mutation (Pro363Thr), two point mutations affecting splicing (912 + 1G-->T and 65 + 5G-->A) and two small re-arrangements (ins144T and 831del8) on a total of nine alleles of five patients with arCSRD. In contrast to other genes whose defects have been implicated in degenerative retinopathies, RPE65 is the first disease gene in this group of inherited disorders that is expressed exclusively in the RPE, and may play a role in vitamin-A metabolism of the retina.
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Affiliation(s)
- S M Gu
- Institut für Humangenetik, Universitäts-Krankenhaus Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
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272
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273
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Stathakis DG, Hoover KB, You Z, Bryant PJ. Human postsynaptic density-95 (PSD95): location of the gene (DLG4) and possible function in nonneural as well as in neural tissues. Genomics 1997; 44:71-82. [PMID: 9286702 DOI: 10.1006/geno.1997.4848] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
We have determined the cDNA sequence, expression pattern, and chromosomal location of the human gene DLG4, encoding the postsynaptic density-95 (PSD95) protein. hPSD95 is a 723-amino-acid protein that is 99% identical to its rodent counterparts. This is the fourth human protein identified as showing significant similarity to the Drosophila tumor suppressor Dlg. These proteins constitute the DLG subfamily of the membrane-associated guanylate kinase protein family. The expression of DLG4 in neural tissue is consistent with the pattern observed for its rat homolog. However, DLG4 is also expressed in a wide range of nonneural tissues, suggesting that the protein may have additional roles in humans. Using radiation-hybrid mapping panels, we mapped the DLG4 locus to 17p13.1, a region associated with several diseases, the phenotypes of which are consistent with loss of PSD95 function.
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Affiliation(s)
- D G Stathakis
- Developmental Biology Center, University of California at Irvine 92697-2275, USA.
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274
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Abstract
Recent genetic, biochemical and electrophysiological evidence has provided insights into the molecular identity of the substance responsible for bleaching desensitization in vision. Studies examining the molecular defects that cause delayed dark adaptation suggest that the desensitizing substance is recognized by rhodopsin kinase and/or arrestin and, therefore, is probably a complex comprising all-trans-retinal and opsin.
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Affiliation(s)
- K Palczewski
- Department of Ophthalmology, University of Washington, Box 356485, Seattle, Washington 98195-6485, USA.
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275
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Johnston JP, Farhangfar F, Aparicio JG, Nam SH, Applebury ML. The bovine guanylate cyclase GC-E gene and 5' flanking region. Gene 1997; 193:219-27. [PMID: 9256080 DOI: 10.1016/s0378-1119(97)00125-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
The gene encoding the bovine guanylate cyclase isoform E (GC-E) was isolated as a single 18 kb genomic clone and shown to have 20 exons and 19 introns. Comparison of the structure of the GC-E gene with structures of other membrane guanylate cyclase genes indicates that the GC-E is most closely related to the subfamily of sensory guanylate cyclases. Comparison of the GC-E structure with that of the more distantly related guanylate cyclase isoform A (GC-A) gene shows the most divergence in the extracellular and C-terminal regions, but general conservation of introns and exons in the intracellular kinase-like and catalytic domains. RT-PCR from several bovine tissues shows that GC-E is expressed only in the retina. Consistent with this pattern of expression, elements for the retinal-specific transcription factors RET-1, RET-2 and Talpha-1 are located in the 5' flanking promoter region.
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Affiliation(s)
- J P Johnston
- Department of Ophthalmology, Harvard Medical School/MEEI, Boston, MA 02114, USA
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276
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Hanoune J, Pouille Y, Tzavara E, Shen T, Lipskaya L, Miyamoto N, Suzuki Y, Defer N. Adenylyl cyclases: structure, regulation and function in an enzyme superfamily. Mol Cell Endocrinol 1997; 128:179-94. [PMID: 9140089 DOI: 10.1016/s0303-7207(97)04013-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 115] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- J Hanoune
- INSERM Unité 99, Hôpital Henri Mondor, Creteil, France
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