Rhodopsin transport in the membrane of the connecting cilium of mammalian photoreceptor cells

IFT27 regulates the long-term maintenance of photoreceptor outer segments in zebrafish

Approximately a quarter of Retinitis Pigmentosa (RP) is caused by mutations in transport-related genes in cilia. IFT27 (Intraflagellar Transport 27), a core component of the ciliary intraflagellar transport (IFT) system, has been implicated as a significant pathogenic gene in RP. The pathogenic mechanisms and subsequent pathology related to IFT27 mutations in RP are largely obscure. Here, we utilized TALEN technology to create an ift27 knockout (ift27-/-) zebrafish model. Electroretinography (ERG) detection showed impaired vision in this model. Histopathological examinations disclosed that ift27 mutations cause progressive degeneration of photoreceptors in zebrafish, and this degeneration was late-onset. Immunofluorescence labeling of outer segments showed that rods degenerated before cones, aligning with the conventional characterization of RP. In cultured human retinal pigment epithelial cells, we found that IFT27 was involved in maintaining ciliary morphology. Furthermore, decreased IFT27 expression resulted in the inhibition of the Hedgehog (Hh) signaling pathway, including decreased expression of key factors in the Hh pathway and abnormal localization of the ciliary mediator Gli2. In summary, we generated an ift27-/- zebrafish line with retinal degeneration which mimicked the symptoms of RP patients, highlighting IFT27's integral role in the long-term maintenance of cilia via the Hh signaling pathway. This work may furnish new insights into the treatment or delay of RP caused by IFT27 mutations.

The endoplasmic reticulum membrane protein complex subunit Emc6 is essential for rhodopsin localization and photoreceptor cell survival

The endoplasmic reticulum (ER) membrane protein complex (EMC) is responsible for monitoring the biogenesis and synthetic quality of membrane proteins with tail-anchored or multiple transmembrane domains. The EMC subunit EMC6 is one of the core members of EMC and forms an enclosed hydrophilic vestibule in cooperation with EMC3. Despite studies demonstrating that deletion of EMC3 led to rhodopsin mislocalization in rod photoreceptors of mice, the precise mechanism leading to the failure of rhodopsin trafficking remains unclear. Here, we generated the first rod photoreceptor-specific knockout of Emc6 (RKO) and cone photoreceptor-specific knockout of Emc6 (CKO) mouse models. Deficiency of Emc6 in rod photoreceptors led to progressive shortening of outer segments (OS), impaired visual function, mislocalization and reduced expression of rhodopsin, and increased gliosis in rod photoreceptors. In addition, CKO mice displayed the progressive death of cone photoreceptors and abnormal localization of cone opsin protein. Subsequently, proteomics analysis of the RKO mouse retina illustrated that several cilium-related proteins, particularly anoctamin-2 (ANO2) and transmembrane protein 67 (TMEM67), were significantly down-regulated prior to OS degeneration. Detrimental rod photoreceptor cilia and mislocalized membrane disc proteins were evident in RKO mice. Our data revealed that in addition to monitoring the synthesis of rhodopsin-dominated membrane disc proteins, EMC6 also impacted rod photoreceptors' ciliogenesis by regulating the synthesis of membrane proteins associated with cilia, contributing to the mislocalization of membrane disc proteins.

Super-resolution mapping in rod photoreceptors identifies rhodopsin trafficking through the inner segment plasma membrane as an essential subcellular pathway

Photoreceptor cells in the vertebrate retina have a highly compartmentalized morphology for efficient phototransduction and vision. Rhodopsin, the visual pigment in rod photoreceptors, is densely packaged into the rod outer segment sensory cilium and continuously renewed through essential synthesis and trafficking pathways housed in the rod inner segment. Despite the importance of this region for rod health and maintenance, the subcellular organization of rhodopsin and its trafficking regulators in the mammalian rod inner segment remain undefined. We used super-resolution fluorescence microscopy with optimized retinal immunolabeling techniques to perform a single molecule localization analysis of rhodopsin in the inner segments of mouse rods. We found that a significant fraction of rhodopsin molecules was localized at the plasma membrane, at the surface, in an even distribution along the entire length of the inner segment, where markers of transport vesicles also colocalized. Thus, our results collectively establish a model of rhodopsin trafficking through the inner segment plasma membrane as an essential subcellular pathway in mouse rod photoreceptors.

Expression of two major isoforms of MYO7A in the retina: Considerations for gene therapy of Usher syndrome type 1B

Usher syndrome type 1B (USH1B) is a deaf-blindness disorder, caused by mutations in the MYO7A gene, which encodes the heavy chain of an unconventional actin-based motor protein. Here, we examined the two retinal isoforms of MYO7A, IF1 and IF2. We compared 3D models of the two isoforms and noted that the 38-amino acid region that is present in IF1 but absent from IF2 affects the C lobe of the FERM1 domain and the opening of a cleft in this potentially important protein binding domain. Expression of each of the two isoforms of human MYO7A and pig and mouse Myo7a was detected in the RPE and neural retina. Quantification by qPCR showed that the expression of IF2 was typically ∼ 7-fold greater than that of IF1. We discuss the implications of these findings for any USH1B gene therapy strategy. Given the current incomplete knowledge of the functions of each isoform, both isoforms should be considered for targeting both the RPE and the neural retina in gene augmentation therapies.

Control of protein and lipid composition of photoreceptor outer segments-Implications for retinal disease

Vision is arguably our most important sense, and its loss brings substantial limitations to daily life for affected individuals. Light is perceived in retinal photoreceptors (PRs), which are highly specialized neurons subdivided into several compartments with distinct functions. The outer segments (OSs) of photoreceptors represent highly specialized primary ciliary compartments hosting the phototransduction cascade, which transforms incoming light into a neuronal signal. Retinal disease can result from various pathomechanisms originating in distinct subcompartments of the PR cell, or in the retinal pigment epithelium which supports the PRs. Dysfunction of primary cilia causes human disorders known as "ciliopathies", in which retinal disease is a common feature. This chapter focuses on PR OSs, discussing the mechanisms controlling their complex structure and composition. A sequence of tightly regulated sorting and trafficking events, both upstream of and within this ciliary compartment, ensures the establishment and maintenance of the adequate proteome and lipidome required for signaling in response to light. We discuss in particular our current understanding of the role of ciliopathy proteins involved in multi-protein complexes at the ciliary transition zone (CC2D2A) or BBSome (BBS1) and how their dysfunction causes retinal disease. While the loss of CC2D2A prevents the fusion of vesicles and delivery of the photopigment rhodopsin to the ciliary base, leading to early OS ultrastructural defects, BBS1 deficiency results in precocious accumulation of cholesterol in mutant OSs and decreased visual function preceding morphological changes. These distinct pathomechanisms underscore the central role of ciliary proteins involved in multiple processes controlling OS protein and lipid composition.

Mapping rhodopsin trafficking in rod photoreceptors with quantitative super-resolution microscopy

Photoreceptor cells in the vertebrate retina have a highly compartmentalized morphology for efficient long-term phototransduction. Rhodopsin, the visual pigment in rod photoreceptors, is densely packaged into the rod outer segment sensory cilium and continuously renewed through essential synthesis and trafficking pathways housed in the rod inner segment. Despite the importance of this region for rod health and maintenance, the subcellular organization of rhodopsin and its trafficking regulators in the mammalian rod inner segment remain undefined. We used super-resolution fluorescence microscopy with optimized retinal immunolabeling techniques to perform a single molecule localization analysis of rhodopsin in the inner segments of mouse rods. We found that a significant fraction of rhodopsin molecules was localized at the plasma membrane in an even distribution along the entire length of the inner segment, where markers of transport vesicles also colocalized. Thus, our results collectively establish a model of rhodopsin trafficking through the inner segment plasma membrane as an essential subcellular pathway in mouse rod photoreceptors.

Rhodopsin, light-sensor of vision

The light sensor of vertebrate scotopic (low-light) vision, rhodopsin, is a G-protein-coupled receptor comprising a polypeptide chain with bound chromophore, 11-cis-retinal, that exhibits remarkable physicochemical properties. This photopigment is extremely stable in the dark, yet its chromophore isomerises upon photon absorption with 70% efficiency, enabling the activation of its G-protein, transducin, with high efficiency. Rhodopsin's photochemical and biochemical activities occur over very different time-scales: the energy of retinaldehyde's excited state is stored in <1 ps in retinal-protein interactions, but it takes milliseconds for the catalytically active state to form, and many tens of minutes for the resting state to be restored. In this review, we describe the properties of rhodopsin and its role in rod phototransduction. We first introduce rhodopsin's gross structural features, its evolution, and the basic mechanisms of its activation. We then discuss light absorption and spectral sensitivity, photoreceptor electrical responses that result from the activity of individual rhodopsin molecules, and recovery of rhodopsin and the visual system from intense bleaching exposures. We then provide a detailed examination of rhodopsin's molecular structure and function, first in its dark state, and then in the active Meta states that govern its interactions with transducin, rhodopsin kinase and arrestin. While it is clear that rhodopsin's molecular properties are exquisitely honed for phototransduction, from starlight to dawn/dusk intensity levels, our understanding of how its molecular interactions determine the properties of scotopic vision remains incomplete. We describe potential future directions of research, and outline several major problems that remain to be solved.

Expression and subcellular localization of USH1C/harmonin in human retina provides insights into pathomechanisms and therapy

Usher syndrome (USH) is the most common form of hereditary deaf-blindness in humans. USH is a complex genetic disorder, assigned to three clinical subtypes differing in onset, course and severity, with USH1 being the most severe. Rodent USH1 models do not reflect the ocular phenotype observed in human patients to date; hence, little is known about the pathophysiology of USH1 in the human eye. One of the USH1 genes, USH1C, exhibits extensive alternative splicing and encodes numerous harmonin protein isoforms that function as scaffolds for organizing the USH interactome. RNA-seq analysis of human retinae uncovered harmonin_a1 as the most abundant transcript of USH1C. Bulk RNA-seq analysis and immunoblotting showed abundant expression of harmonin in Müller glia cells (MGCs) and retinal neurons. Furthermore, harmonin was localized in the terminal endfeet and apical microvilli of MGCs, presynaptic region (pedicle) of cones and outer segments (OS) of rods as well as at adhesive junctions between MGCs and photoreceptor cells (PRCs) in the outer limiting membrane (OLM). Our data provide evidence for the interaction of harmonin with OLM molecules in PRCs and MGCs and rhodopsin in PRCs. Subcellular expression and colocalization of harmonin correlate with the clinical phenotype observed in USH1C patients. We also demonstrate that primary cilia defects in USH1C patient-derived fibroblasts could be reverted by the delivery of harmonin_a1 transcript isoform. Our studies thus provide novel insights into PRC cell biology, USH1C pathophysiology and development of gene therapy treatment(s).

The Adhesion G-Protein-Coupled Receptor GPR115/ADGRF4 Regulates Epidermal Differentiation and Associates with Cytoskeletal KRT1

Among the 33 human adhesion G-protein-coupled receptors (aGPCRs), a unique subfamily of GPCRs, only ADGRF4, encoding GPR115, shows an obvious skin-dominated transcriptomic profile, but its expression and function in skin is largely unknown. Here, we report that GPR115 is present in a small subset of basal and in most suprabasal, noncornified keratinocytes of the stratified epidermis, supporting epidermal transcriptomic data. In psoriatic skin, characterized by hyperproliferation and delayed differentiation, the expression of GPR115 and KRT1/10, the fundamental suprabasal keratin dimer, is delayed. The deletion of ADGRF4 in HaCaT keratinocytes grown in an organotypic mode abrogates KRT1 and reduces keratinocyte stratification, indicating a role of GPR115 in epidermal differentiation. Unexpectedly, endogenous GPR115, which is not glycosylated and is likely not proteolytically processed, localizes intracellularly along KRT1/10-positive keratin filaments in a regular pattern. Our data demonstrate a hitherto unknown function of GPR115 in the regulation of epidermal differentiation and KRT1.

Dynamic lipid turnover in photoreceptors and retinal pigment epithelium throughout life

The retinal pigment epithelium-photoreceptor interphase is renewed each day in a stunning display of cellular interdependence. While photoreceptors use photosensitive pigments to convert light into electrical signals, the RPE supports photoreceptors in their function by phagocytizing shed photoreceptor tips, regulating the blood retina barrier, and modulating inflammatory responses, as well as regenerating the 11-cis-retinal chromophore via the classical visual cycle. These processes involve multiple protein complexes, tightly regulated ligand-receptors interactions, and a plethora of lipids and protein-lipids interactions. The role of lipids in maintaining a healthy interplay between the RPE and photoreceptors has not been fully delineated. In recent years, novel technologies have resulted in major advancements in understanding several facets of this interplay, including the involvement of lipids in phagocytosis and phagolysosome function, nutrient recycling, and the metabolic dependence between the two cell types. In this review, we aim to integrate the complex role of lipids in photoreceptor and RPE function, emphasizing the dynamic exchange between the cells as well as discuss how these processes are affected in aging and retinal diseases.

Tmem138 is localized to the connecting cilium essential for rhodopsin localization and outer segment biogenesis

The connecting cilium (CC) of the photoreceptor provides the only route for the trafficking of the outer segment (OS) proteins. Failure of OS protein transport causes degenerative photoreceptor diseases, including retinitis pigmentosa. We demonstrate that Tmem138, a protein linked to ciliopathy, is localized to the photoreceptor CC. Germline deletion of Tmem138 abolished OS morphogenesis, followed by rapid photoreceptor degeneration. Tmem138 interacts with rhodopsin and two additional CC compartment proteins, Ahi1 and Tmem231, likely forming a membrane complex to facilitate trafficking of rhodopsin and other OS-bound proteins across the CC. The study thus implicates a new line of regulation on the delivery of OS proteins through interactions with CC membrane complex(es) and provides insights into photoreceptor ciliopathy diseases.

Photoreceptor connecting cilium (CC) is structurally analogous to the transition zone (TZ) of primary cilia and gates the molecular trafficking between the inner and the outer segment (OS). Retinal dystrophies with underlying CC defects are manifested in a broad array of syndromic conditions known as ciliopathies as well as nonsyndromic retinal degenerations. Despite extensive studies, many questions remain in the mechanism of protein trafficking across the photoreceptor CC. Here, we genetically inactivated mouse Tmem138, a gene encoding a putative transmembrane protein localized to the ciliary TZ and linked to ciliopathies. Germline deletion of Tmem138 abolished OS morphogenesis, followed by rapid photoreceptor degeneration. Tmem138 was found localized to the photoreceptor CC and was required for localization of Ahi1 to the distal subdomain of the CC. Among the examined set of OS proteins, rhodopsin was mislocalized throughout the mutant cell body prior to OS morphogenesis. Ablation of Tmem138 in mature rods recapitulated the molecular changes in the germline mutants, causing failure of disc renewal and disintegration of the OS. Furthermore, Tmem138 interacts reciprocally with rhodopsin and a related protein Tmem231, and the ciliary localization of the latter was also altered in the mutant photoreceptors. Taken together, these results suggest a crucial role of Tmem138 in the functional organization of the CC, which is essential for rhodopsin localization and OS biogenesis.

Early disruption of photoreceptor cell architecture and loss of vision in a humanized pig model of usher syndromes

Usher syndrome (USH) is the most common form of monogenic deaf-blindness. Loss of vision is untreatable and there are no suitable animal models for testing therapeutic strategies of the ocular constituent of USH, so far. By introducing a human mutation into the harmonin-encoding USH1C gene in pigs, we generated the first translational animal model for USH type 1 with characteristic hearing defect, vestibular dysfunction, and visual impairment. Changes in photoreceptor architecture, quantitative motion analysis, and electroretinography were characteristics of the reduced retinal virtue in USH1C pigs. Fibroblasts from USH1C pigs or USH1C patients showed significantly elongated primary cilia, confirming USH as a true and general ciliopathy. Primary cells also proved their capacity for assessing the therapeutic potential of CRISPR/Cas-mediated gene repair or gene therapy in vitro. AAV-based delivery of harmonin into the eye of USH1C pigs indicated therapeutic efficacy in vivo.

Primary cilia: turning points in establishing their ubiquity, sensory role and the pathological consequences of dysfunction

For over 20 years it has finally become accepted that primary cilia are without doubt important cellular organelles, involved in signalling both intrinsically and extrinsically. The consequences of their agenesis, incorrect assembly and dysfunction only began to be fully appreciated after 2000, although this had been demonstrable over the previous two decades. Before 1980, biologists at large thought the organelle rudimentary or vestigial; how a well-developed cilium could be so slated beggars belief. Many pathological conditions have implicated the primary cilium as either a major or contributing factor, ranging from kidney malfunction (e.g. polycystic kidney disease) to mental aberrations. However, the questions of how the recognition of their prevalence, their sensory function, and their pathological involvement finally emerged as substantiated and verifiable facts needs to be addressed because what happened before the 1980s, and then notably between 1980 and 2000, can help guide research towards answering further questions on these issues. Here the intention is to focus on the salient findings (the turning points) that brought about changes in our knowledge of primary cilia. The literature on them is growing fast, with the total moving towards 20,000 reports, of which > 60% have been published in the last decade. PubMed indicates that nearly 1000 papers were published in 2020 alone. We also have to appreciate that the primary cilium can assume many different forms, each of which means that there must be many genes responsible for their development and final structure. This also suggests that there are many more functions than are currently known in both their sensory reception and signalling properties, probably for many highly specialised purposes. Malfunctioning in any of these roles will undoubtedly uncover further pathological conditions.

Usher Syndrome: Genetics of a Human Ciliopathy

Usher syndrome (USH) is an autosomal recessive syndromic ciliopathy characterized by sensorineural hearing loss, retinitis pigmentosa and, sometimes, vestibular dysfunction. There are three clinical types depending on the severity and age of onset of the symptoms; in addition, ten genes are reported to be causative of USH, and six more related to the disease. These genes encode proteins of a diverse nature, which interact and form a dynamic protein network called the "Usher interactome". In the organ of Corti, the USH proteins are essential for the correct development and maintenance of the structure and cohesion of the stereocilia. In the retina, the USH protein network is principally located in the periciliary region of the photoreceptors, and plays an important role in the maintenance of the periciliary structure and the trafficking of molecules between the inner and the outer segments of photoreceptors. Even though some genes are clearly involved in the syndrome, others are controversial. Moreover, expression of some USH genes has been detected in other tissues, which could explain their involvement in additional mild comorbidities. In this paper, we review the genetics of Usher syndrome and the spectrum of mutations in USH genes. The aim is to identify possible mutation associations with the disease and provide an updated genotype-phenotype correlation.

Functional compartmentalization of photoreceptor neurons

Retinal photoreceptors are neurons that convert dynamically changing patterns of light into electrical signals that are processed by retinal interneurons and ultimately transmitted to vision centers in the brain. They represent the essential first step in seeing without which the remainder of the visual system is rendered moot. To support this role, the major functions of photoreceptors are segregated into three main specialized compartments-the outer segment, the inner segment, and the pre-synaptic terminal. This compartmentalization is crucial for photoreceptor function-disruption leads to devastating blinding diseases for which therapies remain elusive. In this review, we examine the current understanding of the molecular and physical mechanisms underlying photoreceptor functional compartmentalization and highlight areas where significant knowledge gaps remain.

On the Wrong Track: Alterations of Ciliary Transport in Inherited Retinal Dystrophies

Ciliopathies are a group of heterogeneous inherited disorders associated with dysfunction of the cilium, a ubiquitous microtubule-based organelle involved in a broad range of cellular functions. Most ciliopathies are syndromic, since several organs whose cells produce a cilium, such as the retina, cochlea or kidney, are affected by mutations in ciliary-related genes. In the retina, photoreceptor cells present a highly specialized neurosensory cilium, the outer segment, stacked with membranous disks where photoreception and phototransduction occurs. The daily renewal of the more distal disks is a unique characteristic of photoreceptor outer segments, resulting in an elevated protein demand. All components necessary for outer segment formation, maintenance and function have to be transported from the photoreceptor inner segment, where synthesis occurs, to the cilium. Therefore, efficient transport of selected proteins is critical for photoreceptor ciliogenesis and function, and any alteration in either cargo delivery to the cilium or intraciliary trafficking compromises photoreceptor survival and leads to retinal degeneration. To date, mutations in more than 100 ciliary genes have been associated with retinal dystrophies, accounting for almost 25% of these inherited rare diseases. Interestingly, not all mutations in ciliary genes that cause retinal degeneration are also involved in pleiotropic pathologies in other ciliated organs. Depending on the mutation, the same gene can cause syndromic or non-syndromic retinopathies, thus emphasizing the highly refined specialization of the photoreceptor neurosensory cilia, and raising the possibility of photoreceptor-specific molecular mechanisms underlying common ciliary functions such as ciliary transport. In this review, we will focus on ciliary transport in photoreceptor cells and discuss the molecular complexity underpinning retinal ciliopathies, with a special emphasis on ciliary genes that, when mutated, cause either syndromic or non-syndromic retinal ciliopathies.

Spectrum of MYO7A Mutations in an Indigenous South African Population Further Elucidates the Nonsyndromic Autosomal Recessive Phenotype of DFNB2 to Include Both Homozygous and Compound Heterozygous Mutations

MYO7A gene encodes unconventional myosin VIIA, which, when mutated, causes a phenotypic spectrum ranging from recessive hearing loss DFNB2 to deaf-blindness, Usher Type 1B (USH1B). MYO7A mutations are reported in nine DFNB2 families to date, none from sub-Saharan Africa.In DNA, from a cohort of 94 individuals representing 92 families from the Limpopo province of South Africa, eight MYO7A variations were detected among 10 individuals. Family studies identified homozygous and compound heterozygous mutations in 17 individuals out of 32 available family members. Four mutations were novel, p.Gly329Asp, p.Arg373His, p.Tyr1780Ser, and p.Pro2126Leufs*5. Two variations, p.Ser617Pro and p.Thr381Met, previously listed as of uncertain significance (ClinVar), were confirmed to be pathogenic. The identified mutations are predicted to interfere with the conformational properties of myosin VIIA through interruption or abrogation of multiple interactions between the mutant and neighbouring residues. Specifically, p.Pro2126Leufs*5, is predicted to abolish the critical site for the interactions between the tail and the motor domain essential for the autoregulation, leaving a non-functional, unregulated protein that causes hearing loss. We have identified MYO7A as a possible key deafness gene among indigenous sub-Saharan Africans. The spectrum of MYO7A mutations in this South African population points to DFNB2 as a specific entity that may occur in a homozygous or in a compound heterozygous state.

Compartmentalization of Photoreceptor Sensory Cilia

Functional compartmentalization of cells is a universal strategy for segregating processes that require specific components, undergo regulation by modulating concentrations of those components, or that would be detrimental to other processes. Primary cilia are hair-like organelles that project from the apical plasma membranes of epithelial cells where they serve as exclusive compartments for sensing physical and chemical signals in the environment. As such, molecules involved in signal transduction are enriched within cilia and regulating their ciliary concentrations allows adaptation to the environmental stimuli. The highly efficient organization of primary cilia has been co-opted by major sensory neurons, olfactory cells and the photoreceptor neurons that underlie vision. The mechanisms underlying compartmentalization of cilia are an area of intense current research. Recent findings have revealed similarities and differences in molecular mechanisms of ciliary protein enrichment and its regulation among primary cilia and sensory cilia. Here we discuss the physiological demands on photoreceptors that have driven their evolution into neurons that rely on a highly specialized cilium for signaling changes in light intensity. We explore what is known and what is not known about how that specialization appears to have driven unique mechanisms for photoreceptor protein and membrane compartmentalization.

β1-Integrin- and KV1.3 channel-dependent signaling stimulates glutamate release from Th17 cells

Although the impact of Th17 cells on autoimmunity is undisputable, their pathogenic effector mechanism is still enigmatic. We discovered soluble N-ethylmaleimide-sensitive factor attachment receptor (SNARE) complex proteins in Th17 cells that enable a vesicular glutamate release pathway that induces local intracytoplasmic calcium release and subsequent damage in neurons. This pathway is glutamine dependent and triggered by binding of β1-integrin to vascular cell adhesion molecule 1 (VCAM-1) on neurons in the inflammatory context. Glutamate secretion could be blocked by inhibiting either glutaminase or KV1.3 channels, which are known to be linked to integrin expression and highly expressed on stimulated T cells. Although KV1.3 is not expressed in CNS tissue, intrathecal administration of a KV1.3 channel blocker or a glutaminase inhibitor ameliorated disability in experimental neuroinflammation. In humans, T cells from patients with multiple sclerosis secreted higher levels of glutamate, and cerebrospinal fluid glutamine levels were increased. Altogether, our findings demonstrate that β1-integrin- and KV1.3 channel-dependent signaling stimulates glutamate release from Th17 cells upon direct cell-cell contact between Th17 cells and neurons.

Autophagy interferes with human cytomegalovirus genome replication, morphogenesis, and progeny release

Viral infections are often accompanied by the induction of autophagy as an intrinsic cellular defense mechanism. Herpesviruses have developed strategies to evade autophagic degradation and to manipulate autophagy of the host cells to their benefit. Here we addressed the role of macroautophagy/autophagy in human cytomegalovirus replication and for particle morphogenesis. We found that proteins of the autophagy machinery localize to cytoplasmic viral assembly compartments and enveloped virions in the cytoplasm. Surprisingly, the autophagy receptor SQSTM1/p62 was also found to colocalize with HCMV capsids in the nucleus of infected cells. This finding indicates that the autophagy machinery interacts with HCMV already at the early nuclear stages of particle morphogenesis. The membrane-bound form of LC3 and several autophagy receptors were packaged into extracellular HCMV virions. This suggested that autophagic membranes were included during secondary envelopment of HCMV virions. To further address the importance of autophagy in HCMV infection, we generated an HCMV mutant that expressed a dominant-negative version of the protease ATG4B (BAD-ATG4B^C74A). The proteolytic activity of ATG4B is required for LC3 cleavage, priming it for membrane conjugation. Surprisingly, both genome replication and virus release were enhanced in cells infected with BAD-ATG4B^C74A, compared to control strains. These results show that autophagy operates as an antiviral process during HCMV infection but is dispensable for secondary HCMV particle envelopment.Abbreviations: ATG: autophagy-related; BAC: bacterial artificial chromosome; BECN1: beclin 1; CPE: cytopathic effect; cVACs: cytoplasmic viral assembly compartments; d.p.i.: days post-infection; DB: dense body; EBV: Epstein-Barr virus; galK: galactokinase; HCMV: human cytomegalovirus; HFF: human foreskin fibroblasts; IE: immediate-early; IRS: internal repeat short; LC3: MAP1LC3A/B; m.o.i.; multiplicity of infection; MCP: major capsid protein; Pp: phosphoprotein; sCP/UL48a: smallest capsid protein; TRS: terminal repeat short; UL: unique long; US: unique short.

Interplay between Ciliary Ultrastructure and IFT-Train Dynamics Revealed by Single-Molecule Super-resolution Imaging

Cilia are built and maintained by intraflagellar transport (IFT), driving IFT trains back and forth along the ciliary axoneme. How IFT brings about the intricate ciliary structure and how this structure affects IFT are not well understood. We identify, using single-molecule super-resolution imaging of IFT components in living C. elegans, ciliary subdomains, enabling correlation of IFT-train dynamics to ciliary ultra-structure. In the transition zone, IFT dynamics are impaired, resulting in frequent pauses. At the ciliary base and tip, IFT trains show intriguing turnaround dynamics. Surprisingly, deletion of IFT motor kinesin-II not only affects IFT-train dynamics but also alters ciliary structure. Super-resolution imaging in these mutant animals suggests that the arrangement of IFT trains with respect to the axonemal microtubules is different than in wild-type animals. Our results reveal a complex, mutual interplay between ciliary ultrastructure and IFT-train dynamics, highlighting the importance of physical cues in the control of IFT dynamics.

SANS (USH1G) Molecularly Links the Human Usher Syndrome Protein Network to the Intraflagellar Transport Module by Direct Binding to IFT-B Proteins

The human Usher syndrome (USH) is a retinal ciliopathy, characterized by profound congenital deafness, variable vestibular dysfunction and pre-pubertal onset of retinitis pigmentosa. In the effected sensory cells, USH protein networks are assumed to function in ciliary transport processes. The USH1G protein SANS is a scaffold of the ciliary/periciliary USH protein network of photoreceptor cells. Moreover, SANS is associated with microtubules, the transport routes for protein delivery toward the cilium. To enlighten the role of SANS in ciliary transport processes, we aimed to identify transport related proteins associated with SANS. The intraflagellar transport (IFT) system is a conserved mechanism for bi-directional transport toward and through primary cilia. Thus, we tested the direct binding of SANS to IFT molecules, namely IFT20, IFT57, and IFT74 in 1:1 yeast-two-hybrid assay. The identified SANS-IFT interactions were validated in vitro via independent complementary interaction assays and in cells by applying membrane targeting assays. Quantitative immunofluorescence microscopy revealed the co-localization of SANS with IFT20, IFT52, and IFT57 particularly at ciliary base of wild type mouse photoreceptor cells. Analysis of photoreceptor cells of SANS knock out mice revealed the decrease of IFTs in the ciliary compartment indicating a role of SANS in the proper positioning of IFT-B molecules in primary cilia. Our study demonstrated direct binding of IFT complex B proteins IFT52 and IFT57 to the N-terminal ankyrin repeats and the central domain of SANS. Our data also indicate that pathologic mutations in the N-terminus of SANS lead to the loos of SANS binding to IFT-B molecules. Our findings provide direct evidence for a molecular link between the ciliary USH protein network and the IFT transport module in primary cilia.

Retinal Phenotype in the rd9 Mutant Mouse, a Model of X-Linked RP

Retinal degeneration 9 (rd9) mice carry a mutation in the retina specific “Retinitis Pigmentosa GTPase Regulator (RPGR)” Open Reading Frame (ORF) 15 gene, located on the X chromosome and represent a rare model of X-linked Retinitis Pigmentosa (XLRP), a common and severe form of retinal degeneration (Wright et al., 2010; Tsang and Sharma, 2018). The rd9 RPGR-ORF15 mutation in mice causes lack of the protein in photoreceptors and a slow degeneration of these cells with consequent decrease in Outer Nuclear Layer (ONL) thickness and amplitude of ERG responses, as previously described (Thompson et al., 2012). However, relative rates of rod and cone photoreceptor loss, as well as secondary alterations occurring in neuronal and non-neuronal retinal cell types of rd9 mutants remain to be assessed. Aim of this study is to extend phenotype analysis of the rd9 mouse retina focusing on changes occurring in cells directly interacting with photoreceptors. To this purpose, first we estimated rod and cone survival and its degree of intraretinal variation over time; then, we studied the morphology of horizontal and bipolar cells and of the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE), extending our observations to glial cell reactivity. We found that in rd9 retinas rod (but not cone) death is the main cause of decrease in ONL thickness and that degeneration shows a high degree of intraretinal variation. Rod loss drives remodeling in the outer retina, with sprouting of second-order neurons of the rod-pathway and relative sparing of cone pathway elements. Remarkably, despite cone survival, functional defects can be clearly detected in ERG recordings in both scotopic and photopic conditions. Moderate levels of Muller cells and microglial reactivity are sided by striking attenuation of staining for RPE tight junctions, suggesting altered integrity of the outer Blood Retina Barrier (BRB). Because of many features resembling slowly progressing photoreceptor degeneration paradigms or early stages of more aggressive forms of RP, the rd9 mouse model can be considered a rare and useful tool to investigate retinal changes associated to a process of photoreceptor death sustained throughout life and to reveal disease biomarkers (e.g., BRB alterations) of human XLRP.

Comparison of structural progression between ciliopathy and non-ciliopathy associated with autosomal recessive retinitis pigmentosa

BACKGROUND

To evaluate and compare the progression of ciliopathy and non-ciliopathy autosomal recessive Retinitis Pigmentosa patients (arRP) by measuring the constriction of hyperautofluorescent rings in fundus autofluorescence (FAF) images and the progressive shortening of the ellipsoid zone line width obtained by spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT).

RESULTS

For the ciliopathy group, the estimated mean shortening of the ellipsoid zone line was 259 μm per year and the ring area decreased at a rate of 2.46 mm² per year. For the non-ciliopathy group, the estimated mean shortening of the ellipsoid zone line was 84 μm per year and the ring area decreased at a rate of 0.7 mm² per year.

CONCLUSIONS

Our study was able to quantify and compare the loss of EZ line width and short-wavelength autofluorescence (SW-AF) ring constriction progression over time for ciliopathy and non-ciliopathy arRP genes. These results may serve as a basis for modeling RP disease progression, and furthermore, they could potentially be used as endpoints in clinical trials seeking to promote cone and rod survival in RP patients.

Protein Sorting in Healthy and Diseased Photoreceptors

Rods and cones are retinal photoreceptor neurons required for our visual sensation. Because of their highly polarized structures and well-characterized processes of G protein-coupled receptor-mediated phototransduction signaling, these photoreceptors have been excellent models for studying the compartmentalization and sorting of proteins. Rods and cones have a modified ciliary compartment called the outer segment (OS) as well as non-OS compartments. The distinct membrane protein compositions between OS and non-OS compartments suggest that the OS is separated from the rest of the cellular compartments by multiple barriers or gates that are selectively permissive to specific cargoes. This review discusses the mechanisms of protein sorting and compartmentalization in photoreceptor neurons. Proper sorting and compartmentalization of membrane proteins are required for signal transduction and transmission. This review also discusses the roles of compartmentalized signaling, which is compromised in various retinal ciliopathies.

The route of the visual receptor rhodopsin along the cilium

The photoreceptor outer segment is the most elaborate primary cilium, containing large amounts of rhodopsin (RHO) in disk membranes that grow from a connecting cilium. The movement of RHO along the connecting cilium precedes formation of the disk membranes. However, the route that RHO takes has not been clearly determined; some reports suggest that it follows an intracellular, vesicular route along the axoneme, possibly as an adaptation for the high load of delivery or the morphogenesis of the disk endomembranes. We addressed this question by studying RHO in cilia of IMCD3 cells and mouse rod photoreceptors. In IMCD3 cilia, fluorescence recovery after photobleaching (FRAP) experiments with fluorescently tagged RHO supported the idea of RHO motility in the ciliary plasma membrane and was inconsistent with the hypothesis of RHO motility within the lumen of the cilium. In rod photoreceptors, FRAP of RHO-EGFP was altered by externally applied lectin, supporting the idea of plasmalemmal RHO dynamics. Quantitative immunoelectron microscopy corroborated our live-cell conclusions, as RHO was found to be distributed along the plasma membrane of the connecting cilium, with negligible labeling within the axoneme. Taken together, the present findings demonstrate RHO trafficking entirely via the ciliary plasma membrane.This article has an associated First Person interview with the first author of the paper.

Photoreceptor actin dysregulation in syndromic and non-syndromic retinitis pigmentosa

Retinitis pigmentosa (RP) is the leading cause of inherited blindness. RP is a genetically heterogeneous disorder, with more than 100 different causal genes identified in patients. Central to disease pathogenesis is the progressive loss of retinal photoreceptors. Photoreceptors are specialised sensory neurons that exhibit a complex and highly dynamic morphology. The highly polarised and elaborated architecture of photoreceptors requires precise regulation of numerous cytoskeletal elements. In recent years, significant work has been placed on investigating the role of microtubules (specifically, the acetylated microtubular axoneme of the photoreceptor connecting cilium) and their role in normal photoreceptor function. This has been driven by the emerging field of ciliopathies, human diseases arising from mutations in genes required for cilia formation or function, of which RP is a frequently reported phenotype. Recent studies have highlighted an intimate relationship between cilia and the actin cystoskeleton. This review will focus on the role of actin in photoreceptors, examining the connection between actin dysregulation in RP.

Homozygous loss-of-function mutations in MNS1 cause laterality defects and likely male infertility

The clinical spectrum of ciliopathies affecting motile cilia spans impaired mucociliary clearance in the respiratory system, laterality defects including heart malformations, infertility and hydrocephalus. Using linkage analysis and whole exome sequencing, we identified two recessive loss-of-function MNS1 mutations in five individuals from four consanguineous families: 1) a homozygous nonsense mutation p.Arg242* in four males with laterality defects and infertility and 2) a homozygous nonsense mutation p.Gln203* in one female with laterality defects and recurrent respiratory infections additionally carrying homozygous mutations in DNAH5. Consistent with the laterality defects observed in these individuals, we found Mns1 to be expressed in mouse embryonic ventral node. Immunofluorescence analysis further revealed that MNS1 localizes to the axonemes of respiratory cilia as well as sperm flagella in human. In-depth ultrastructural analyses confirmed a subtle outer dynein arm (ODA) defect in the axonemes of respiratory epithelial cells resembling findings reported in Mns1-deficient mice. Ultrastructural analyses in the female carrying combined mutations in MNS1 and DNAH5 indicated a role for MNS1 in the process of ODA docking (ODA-DC) in the distal respiratory axonemes. Furthermore, co-immunoprecipitation and yeast two hybrid analyses demonstrated that MNS1 dimerizes and interacts with the ODA docking complex component CCDC114. Overall, we demonstrate that MNS1 deficiency in humans causes laterality defects (situs inversus) and likely male infertility and that MNS1 plays a role in the ODA-DC assembly.

Gelsolin dysfunction causes photoreceptor loss in induced pluripotent cell and animal retinitis pigmentosa models

Mutations in the Retinitis Pigmentosa GTPase Regulator (RPGR) cause X-linked RP (XLRP), an untreatable, inherited retinal dystrophy that leads to premature blindness. RPGR localises to the photoreceptor connecting cilium where its function remains unknown. Here we show, using murine and human induced pluripotent stem cell models, that RPGR interacts with and activates the actin-severing protein gelsolin, and that gelsolin regulates actin disassembly in the connecting cilium, thus facilitating rhodopsin transport to photoreceptor outer segments. Disease-causing RPGR mutations perturb this RPGR-gelsolin interaction, compromising gelsolin activation. Both RPGR and Gelsolin knockout mice show abnormalities of actin polymerisation and mislocalisation of rhodopsin in photoreceptors. These findings reveal a clinically-significant role for RPGR in the activation of gelsolin, without which abnormalities in actin polymerisation in the photoreceptor connecting cilia cause rhodopsin mislocalisation and eventual retinal degeneration in XLRP.

Mutations in the Retinitis Pigmentosa GTPase Regulator (RPGR) cause retinal dystrophy, but how this arises at a molecular level is unclear. Here, the authors show in induced pluripotent stem cells and mouse knockouts that RPGR mediates actin dynamics in photoreceptors via the actin-severing protein, gelsolin.

Disease mechanisms of X-linked retinitis pigmentosa due to RP2 and RPGR mutations

Photoreceptor degeneration is the prominent characteristic of retinitis pigmentosa (RP), a heterogeneous group of inherited retinal dystrophies resulting in blindness. Although abnormalities in many pathways can cause photoreceptor degeneration, one of the most important causes is defective protein transport through the connecting cilium, the structure that connects the biosynthetic inner segment with the photosensitive outer segment of the photoreceptors. The majority of patients with X-linked RP have mutations in the retinitis pigmentosa GTPase regulator (RPGR) or RP2 genes, the protein products of which are both components of the connecting cilium and associated with distinct mechanisms of protein delivery to the outer segment. RP2 and RPGR proteins are associated with severe diseases ranging from classic RP to atypical forms. In this short review, we will summarise current knowledge generated by experimental studies and knockout animal models, compare and discuss the prominent hypotheses about the two proteins' functions in retinal cell biology.

Cilia - The sensory antennae in the eye

Cilia are hair-like projections found on almost all cells in the human body. Originally believed to function merely in motility, the function of solitary non-motile (primary) cilia was long overlooked. Recent research has demonstrated that primary cilia function as signalling hubs that sense environmental cues and are pivotal for organ development and function, tissue hoemoestasis, and maintenance of human health. Cilia share a common anatomy and their diverse functional features are achieved by evolutionarily conserved functional modules, organized into sub-compartments. Defects in these functional modules are responsible for a rapidly growing list of human diseases collectively termed ciliopathies. Ocular pathogenesis is common in virtually all classes of syndromic ciliopathies, and disruptions in cilia genes have been found to be causative in a growing number of non-syndromic retinal dystrophies. This review will address what is currently known about cilia contribution to visual function. We will focus on the molecular and cellular functions of ciliary proteins and their role in the photoreceptor sensory cilia and their visual phenotypes. We also highlight other ciliated cell types in tissues of the eye (e.g. lens, RPE and Müller glia cells) discussing their possible contribution to disease progression. Progress in basic research on the cilia function in the eye is paving the way for therapeutic options for retinal ciliopathies. In the final section we describe the latest advancements in gene therapy, read-through of non-sense mutations and stem cell therapy, all being adopted to treat cilia dysfunction in the retina.

Medium-chain fatty acids modulate myocardial function via a cardiac odorant receptor

Several studies have demonstrated the expression of odorant receptors (OR) in various human tissues and their involvement in different physiological and pathophysiological processes. However, the functional role of ORs in the human heart is still unclear. Here, we firstly report the functional characterization of an OR in the human heart. Initial next-generation sequencing analysis revealed the OR expression pattern in the adult and fetal human heart and identified the fatty acid-sensing OR51E1 as the most highly expressed OR in both cardiac development stages. An extensive characterization of the OR51E1 ligand profile by luciferase reporter gene activation assay identified 2-ethylhexanoic acid as a receptor antagonist and various structurally related fatty acids as novel OR51E1 ligands, some of which were detected at receptor-activating concentrations in plasma and epicardial adipose tissue. Functional investigation of the endogenous receptor was carried out by Ca²⁺ imaging of human stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes. Application of OR51E1 ligands induced negative chronotropic effects that depended on activation of the OR. OR51E1 activation also provoked a negative inotropic action in cardiac trabeculae and slice preparations of human explanted ventricles. These findings indicate that OR51E1 may play a role as metabolic regulator of cardiac function.

Structural and molecular bases of rod photoreceptor morphogenesis and disease

The rod cell has an extraordinarily specialized structure that allows it to carry out its unique function of detecting individual photons of light. Both the structural features of the rod and the metabolic processes required for highly amplified light detection seem to have rendered the rod especially sensitive to structural and metabolic defects, so that a large number of gene defects are primarily associated with rod cell death and give rise to blinding retinal dystrophies. The structures of the rod, especially those of the sensory cilium known as the outer segment, have been the subject of structural, biochemical, and genetic analysis for many years, but the molecular bases for rod morphogenesis and for cell death in rod dystrophies are still poorly understood. Recent developments in imaging technology, such as cryo-electron tomography and super-resolution fluorescence microscopy, in gene sequencing technology, and in gene editing technology are rapidly leading to new breakthroughs in our understanding of these questions. A summary is presented of our current understanding of selected aspects of these questions, highlighting areas of uncertainty and contention as well as recent discoveries that provide new insights. Examples of structural data from emerging imaging technologies are presented.

Novel Biochemical and Structural Insights into the Interaction of Myristoylated Cargo with Unc119 Protein and Their Release by Arl2/3

Primary cilia are highly specialized small antenna-like cellular protrusions that extend from the cell surface of many eukaryotic cell types. The protein content inside cilia and cytoplasm is very different, but details of the sorting process are not understood for most ciliary proteins. Recently, we have shown that prenylated proteins are sorted according to their affinity to the carrier protein PDE6δ and the ability of Arl3 but not Arl2 to release high affinity cargo inside the cilia (Fansa, E. K., Kösling, S. K., Zent, E., Wittinghofer, A., and Ismail, S. (2016) Nat. Commun. 7, 11366). Here we address the question whether a similar principle governs the transport of myristoylated cargo by the carrier proteins Unc119a and Unc119b. We thus analyzed the binding strength of N-terminal myristoylated cargo peptides (GNAT1, NPHP3, Cystin1, RP2, and Src) to Unc119a and Unc119b proteins. The affinity between myristoylated cargo and carrier protein, Unc119, varies between subnanomolar and micromolar. Peptides derived from ciliary localizing proteins (GNAT1, NPHP3, and Cystin1) bind with high affinity to Unc119 proteins, whereas a peptide derived from a non-ciliary localizing protein (Src) has low affinity. The peptide with intermediate affinity (RP2) is localized at the ciliary transition zone as a gate keeper. We show that the low affinity peptides are released by both Arl2·GppNHp and Arl3·GppNHp, whereas the high affinity peptides are exclusively released by only Arl3·GppNHp. Determination of the x-ray structure of myristoylated NPHP3 peptide in complex with Unc119a reveals the molecular details of high affinity binding and suggests the importance of the residues at the +2 and +3 positions relative to the myristoylated glycine for high and low affinities. The mutational analysis of swapping the residues at the +2 and +3 positions between high and low affinity peptides results in reversing their affinities for Unc119a and leads to a partial mislocalization of a low affinity mutant of NPHP3.

A FRAP-Based Method for Monitoring Molecular Transport in Ciliary Photoreceptor Cells In Vivo

The outer segment of rod and cone photoreceptor cells represents a highly modified primary sensory cilium. It renews on a daily basis throughout lifetime and effective vectorial transport to the cilium is essential for the maintenance of the photoreceptor cell function. Defects in molecules of transport modules lead to severe retinal ciliopathies. We have recently established a fluorescence recovery after photobleaching (FRAP)-based method to monitor molecular trafficking in living rodent photoreceptor cells. We irreversibly bleach the fluorescence of tagged molecules (e.g. eGFP-Rhodopsin) in photoreceptor cells of native vibratome sections through the retina by high laser intensity. In the laser scanning microscope, the recovery of the fluorescent signal is monitored over time and the kinetics of movements of molecules can be quantitatively ascertained.

Abnormal photoreceptor outer segment development and early retinal degeneration in kif3a mutant zebrafish

Photoreceptors are highly specialized sensory neurons that possess a modified primary cilium called the outer segment. Photoreceptor outer segment formation and maintenance require highly active protein transport via a process known as intraflagellar transport. Anterograde transport in outer segments is powered by the heterotrimeric kinesin II and coordinated by intraflagellar transport proteins. Here, we describe a new zebrafish model carrying a nonsense mutation in the kinesin II family member 3A (kif3a) gene. Kif3a mutant zebrafish exhibited curved body axes and kidney cysts. Outer segments were not formed in most parts of the mutant retina, and rhodopsin was mislocalized, suggesting KIF3A has a role in rhodopsin trafficking. Both rod and cone photoreceptors degenerated rapidly between 4 and 9 days post fertilization, and electroretinography response was not detected in 7 days post fertilization mutant larvae. Loss of KIF3A in zebrafish also resulted in an intracellular transport defect affecting anterograde but not retrograde transport of organelles. Our results indicate KIF3A plays a conserved role in photoreceptor outer segment formation and intracellular transport.

Rod disc renewal occurs by evagination of the ciliary plasma membrane that makes cadherin-based contacts with the inner segment

The outer segments of vertebrate rod photoreceptors are renewed every 10 d. Outer segment components are transported from the site of synthesis in the inner segment through the connecting cilium, followed by assembly of the highly ordered discs. Two models of assembly of discrete discs involving either successive fusion events between intracellular rhodopsin-bearing vesicles or the evagination of the plasma membrane followed by fusion of adjacent evaginations have been proposed. Here we use immuno-electron microscopy and electron tomography to show that rhodopsin is transported from the inner to the outer segment via the ciliary plasma membrane, subsequently forming successive evaginations that "zipper" up proximally, but at their leading edges are free to make junctions containing the protocadherin, PCDH21, with the inner segment plasma membrane. Given the physical dimensions of the evaginations, coupled with likely instability of the membrane cortex at the distal end of the connecting cilium, we propose that the evagination occurs via a process akin to blebbing and is not driven by actin polymerization. Disassembly of these junctions is accompanied by fusion of the leading edges of successive evaginations to form discrete discs. This fusion is topologically different to that mediated by the membrane fusion proteins, SNAREs, as initial fusion is between exoplasmic leaflets, and is accompanied by gain of the tetraspanin rim protein, peripherin.

PEX6 is Expressed in Photoreceptor Cilia and Mutated in Deafblindness with Enamel Dysplasia and Microcephaly

Deafblindness is part of several genetic disorders. We investigated a consanguineous Egyptian family with two siblings affected by congenital hearing loss and retinal degeneration, initially diagnosed as Usher syndrome type 1. At teenage, severe enamel dysplasia, developmental delay, and microcephaly became apparent. Genome-wide homozygosity mapping and whole-exome sequencing detected a homozygous missense mutation, c.1238G>T (p.Gly413Val), affecting a highly conserved residue of peroxisomal biogenesis factor 6, PEX6. Biochemical profiling of the siblings revealed abnormal and borderline plasma phytanic acid concentration, and cerebral imaging revealed white matter disease in both. We show that Pex6 localizes to the apical extensions of secretory ameloblasts and differentiated odontoblasts at early stages of dentin synthesis in mice, and to cilia of retinal photoreceptor cells. We propose PEX6, and possibly other peroxisomal genes, as candidate for the rare cooccurrence of deafblindness and enamel dysplasia. Our study for the first time links peroxisome biogenesis disorders to retinal ciliopathies.

Impact of the Usher syndrome on olfaction

Usher syndrome is a genetically and clinically heterogeneous disease in humans, characterized by sensorineural hearing loss, retinitis pigmentosa and vestibular dysfunction. This disease is caused by mutations in genes encoding proteins that form complex networks in different cellular compartments. Currently, it remains unclear whether the Usher proteins also form networks within the olfactory epithelium (OE). Here, we describe Usher gene expression at the mRNA and protein level in the OE of mice and showed interactions between these proteins and olfactory signaling proteins. Additionally, we analyzed the odor sensitivity of different Usher syndrome mouse models using electro-olfactogram recordings and monitored significant changes in the odor detection capabilities in mice expressing mutant Usher proteins. Furthermore, we observed changes in the expression of signaling proteins that might compensate for the Usher protein deficiency. In summary, this study provides novel insights into the presence and purpose of the Usher proteins in olfactory signal transduction.

On the Ultrastructure and Function of Rhogocytes from the Pond Snail Lymnaea stagnalis

Rhogocytes, also termed "pore cells", occur as solitary or clustered cells in the connective tissue of gastropod molluscs. Rhogocytes possess an enveloping lamina of extracellular matrix and enigmatic extracellular lacunae bridged by cytoplasmic bars that form 20 nm diaphragmatic slits likely to act as a molecular sieve. Recent papers highlight the embryogenesis and ultrastructure of these cells, and their role in heavy metal detoxification. Rhogocytes are the site of hemocyanin or hemoglobin biosynthesis in gastropods. Based on electron microscopy, we recently proposed a possible pathway of hemoglobin exocytosis through the slit apparatus, and provided molecular evidence of a common phylogenetic origin of molluscan rhogocytes, insect nephrocytes and vertebrate podocytes. However, the previously proposed secretion mode of the respiratory proteins into the hemolymph is still rather hypothetical, and the possible role of rhogocytes in detoxification requires additional data. Although our previous study on rhogocytes of the red-blooded (hemoglobin-containing) freshwater snail Biomphalaria glabrata provided much new information, a disadvantage was that the hemoglobin molecules were not unequivocally defined in the electron microscope. This made it difficult to trace the exocytosis pathway of this protein. Therefore, we have now performed a similar study on the rhogocytes of the blue-blooded (hemocyanin-containing) freshwater snail Lymnaea stagnalis. The intracellular hemocyanin could be identified in the electron microscope, either as individual molecules or as pseudo-crystalline arrays. Based on 3D-electron microscopy, and supplemented by in situ hybridization, immunocytochemistry and stress response experiments, we provide here additional details on the structure and hemocyanin biosynthesis of rhogocytes, and on their response in animals under cadmium and starvation stress. Moreover, we present an advanced model on the release of synthesized hemocyanin molecules through the slit apparatus into the hemolymph, and the uptake of much smaller particles such as cadmium ions from the hemolymph through the slit apparatus into the cytoplasm.

Kinesin family 17 (osmotic avoidance abnormal-3) is dispensable for photoreceptor morphology and function

In Caenorhabditis elegans, homodimeric [kinesin family (KIF) 17, osmotic avoidance abnormal-3 (OSM-3)] and heterotrimeric (KIF3) kinesin-2 motors are required to establish sensory cilia by intraflagellar transport (IFT) where KIF3 and KIF17 cooperate to build the axoneme core and KIF17 builds the distal segments. However, the function of KIF17 in vertebrates is unresolved. We expressed full-length and motorless KIF17 constructs in mouse rod photoreceptors using adeno-associated virus in Xenopus laevis rod photoreceptors using a transgene and in ciliated IMCD3 cells. We found that tagged KIF17 localized along the rod outer segment axoneme when expressed in mouse and X. laevis photoreceptors, whereas KIF3A was restricted to the proximal axoneme. Motorless KIF3A and KIF17 mutants caused photoreceptor degeneration, likely through dominant negative effects on IFT. KIF17 mutant lacking the motor domain translocated to nuclei after exposure of a C-terminal nuclear localization signal. Germ-line deletion of Kif17 in mouse did not affect photoreceptor function. A rod-specific Kif3/Kif17 double knockout mouse demonstrated that KIF17 and KIF3 do not act synergistically and did not prevent rhodopsin trafficking to rod outer segments. In summary, the nematode model of KIF3/KIF17 cooperation apparently does not apply to mouse photoreceptors in which the photosensory cilium is built exclusively by KIF3.

Systemic diseases associated with retinal dystrophies

Inherited retinal degeneration (IRD) may occur in isolation or as part of a multi-systemic condition. Ocular manifestations may be the presenting symptom of a syndromic disease and can include retinitis pigmentosa, cone-rod dystrophy, or maculopathy. Alternatively, patients affected with syndromic disease may already have other systemic manifestations at the time retinal disease is diagnosed. Some of these systemic diseases can cause significant morbidity. Here, we review several of these syndromic IRDs and their underlying genetic causes. Early recognition and referral for systemic evaluation and surveillance may lead to early intervention and an improved outcome. Obtaining a molecular diagnosis can be beneficial in securing a definitive diagnosis, especially in cases with atypical presentations. A genetic diagnosis may also be informative with regard to prognosis and potential therapies. Effective management and rehabilitation for patients with syndromic retinal dystrophy requires a comprehensive genetic-based team approach involving patients, family members, ophthalmologists, primary care physicians, and geneticists.

Ultrastructural visualization of trans-ciliary rhodopsin cargoes in mammalian rods

Background

Cilia are vital to various cellular and sensory functions. The pathway by which ciliary membrane proteins translocate through the transition zone is not well understood. Direct morphological characterization of ciliary cargoes in transit remains lacking. In the vertebrate photoreceptor, rhodopsin is synthesized and transported from the inner segment to the disc membranes of the outer segment (OS), which is a modified cilium. To date, the membrane topology of the basal OS and the mechanisms by which rhodopsin is transported through the transition zone (i.e., connecting cilium) and by which nascent disc membranes are formed remain controversial.

Results

Using an antibody recognizing its cytoplasmic C-terminus, we localize rhodopsin on both the plasma membrane and lumen of the connecting cilium by immuno-electron microscopy (EM). We also use transmission EM to visualize the electron-dense enzymatic products derived from the rhodopsin-horseradish peroxidase (HRP) fusion in transfected rodent rods. In the connecting cilium, rhodopsin is not only expressed in the plasma membrane but also in the lumen on two types of membranous carriers, long smooth tubules and small, coated, filament-bound vesicles. Additionally, membrane-bound rhodopsin carriers are also found in close proximity to the nascent discs at the basal OS axoneme and in the distal inner segment. This topology-indicative HRP-rhodopsin reporter shows that the nascent basalmost discs and the mature discs have the same membrane topology, with no indication of evagination or invagination from the basal OS plasma membranes. Serial block face and focus ion beam scanning EM analyses both indicate that the transport carriers enter the connecting cilium lumen from either the basal body lumen or cytoplasmic space between the axonemal microtubules and the ciliary plasma membrane.

Conclusions

Our results suggest the existence of multiple ciliary gate entry pathways in rod photoreceptors. Rhodopsin is likely transported across the connecting cilium on the plasma membrane and through the lumens on two types of tubulovesicular carriers produced in the inner segment. Our findings agree with a previous model that rhodopsin carriers derived from the cell body may fuse directly onto nascent discs as they grow and mature.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s13630-015-0013-1) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Usher syndrome protein network functions in the retina and their relation to other retinal ciliopathies

The human Usher syndrome (USH) is the most frequent cause of combined hereditary deaf-blindness. USH is genetically and clinically heterogeneous: 15 chromosomal loci assigned to 3 clinical types, USH1-3. All USH1 and 2 proteins are organized into protein networks by the scaffold proteins harmonin (USH1C), whirlin (USH2D) and SANS (USH1G). This has contributed essentially to our current understanding of the USH protein function in the eye and the ear and explains why defects in proteins of different families cause very similar phenotypes. Ongoing in depth analyses of USH protein networks in the eye indicated cytoskeletal functions as well as roles in molecular transport processes and ciliary cargo delivery in photoreceptor cells. The analysis of USH protein networks revealed molecular links of USH to other ciliopathies, including non-syndromic inner ear defects and isolated retinal dystrophies but also to kidney diseases and syndromes like the Bardet-Biedl syndrome. These findings provide emerging evidence that USH is a ciliopathy molecularly related to other ciliopathies, which opens an avenue for common therapy strategies to treat these diseases.

3D-ultrastructure, functions and stress responses of gastropod (Biomphalaria glabrata) rhogocytes

Rhogocytes are pore cells scattered among the connective tissue of different body parts of gastropods and other molluscs, with great variation in their number, shape and size. They are enveloped by a lamina of extracellular matrix. Their most characteristic feature is the "slit apparatus", local invaginations of the plasma membrane bridged by cytoplasmic bars, forming slits of ca. 20 nm width. A slit diaphragm creates a molecular sieve with permeation holes of 20×20 nm. In blue-blooded gastropods, rhogocytes synthesize and secrete the respiratory protein hemocyanin, and it has been proposed-though not proven-that in the rare red-blooded snail species they might synthesize and secrete the hemoglobin. However, the cellular secretion pathway for respiratory proteins, and the functional role(s) of the enigmatic rhogocyte slit apparatus are still unclear. Additional functions for rhogocytes have been proposed, notably a role in protein uptake and degradation, and in heavy metal detoxification. Here we provide new structural and functional information on the rhogocytes of the red-blooded freshwater snail Biomphalaria glabrata. By in situ hybridization of mantle tissues, we prove that rhogocytes indeed synthesize hemoglobin. By electron tomography, the first three dimensional (3D) reconstructions of the slit apparatus are provided, showing detail of highly dense material in the cytoplasmic bars close to the slits. By immunogold labelling, we collected evidence that a major component of this material is actin. By genome databank mining, the complete sequence of a B. glabrata nephrin was obtained, and localized to the rhogocytes by immunofluorescence microscopy. The presence of both proteins fit the ultrastructure-based hypothesis that rhogocytes are related to mammalian podocytes and insect nephrocytes. Reactions of the rhogocytes to deprivation of food and cadmium toxification are also documented, and a possible secretion pathway of newly synthesized respiratory proteins through the slit apparatus is discussed.

Peripherin-2 couples rhodopsin to the CNG channel in outer segments of rod photoreceptors

Outer segments (OSs) of rod photoreceptors are cellular compartments specialized in the conversion of light into electrical signals. This process relies on the light-triggered change in the intracellular levels of cyclic guanosine monophosphate, which in turn controls the activity of cyclic nucleotide-gated (CNG) channels in the rod OS plasma membrane. The rod CNG channel is a macromolecular complex that in its core harbors the ion-conducting CNGA1 and CNGB1a subunits. To identify additional proteins of the complex that interact with the CNGB1a core subunit, we applied affinity purification of mouse retinal proteins followed by mass spectrometry. In combination with in vitro and in vivo co-immunoprecipitation and fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET), we found that the tetraspanin peripherin-2 links CNGB1a to the light-detector rhodopsin. Using immunoelectron microscopy, we found that this peripherin-2/rhodopsin/CNG channel complex localizes to the contact region between the disk rims and the plasma membrane. FRET measurements revealed that the fourth transmembrane domain (TM4) of peripherin-2 is required for the interaction with rhodopsin. Quantitatively, the binding affinity of the peripherin-2/rhodopsin interaction was in a similar range as that observed for rhodopsin dimers. Finally, we demonstrate that the p.G266D retinitis pigmentosa mutation found within TM4 selectively abolishes the binding of peripherin-2 to rhodopsin. This finding suggests that the specific disruption of the rhodopsin/peripherin-2 interaction in the p.G266D mutant might contribute to the pathophysiology in affected persons.