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Widjaja-Adhi MAK, Kolesnikov AV, Vasudevan S, Park PSH, Kefalov VJ, Golczak M. Acyl-CoA:wax alcohol acyltransferase 2 modulates the cone visual cycle in mouse retina. FASEB J 2022; 36:e22390. [PMID: 35665537 DOI: 10.1096/fj.202101855rrr] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2021] [Revised: 05/12/2022] [Accepted: 05/23/2022] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
The daylight and color vision of diurnal vertebrates depends on cone photoreceptors. The capability of cones to operate and respond to changes in light brightness even under high illumination is attributed to their fast rate of recovery to the ground photosensitive state. This process requires the rapid replenishing of photoisomerized visual chromophore (11-cis-retinal) to regenerate cone visual pigments. Recently, several gene candidates have been proposed to contribute to the cone-specific retinoid metabolism, including acyl-CoA wax alcohol acyltransferase 2 (AWAT2, aka MFAT). Here, we evaluated the role of AWAT2 in the regeneration of visual chromophore by the phenotypic characterization of Awat2-/- mice. The global absence of AWAT2 enzymatic activity did not affect gross retinal morphology or the rate of visual chromophore regeneration by the canonical RPE65-dependent visual cycle. Analysis of Awat2 expression indicated the presence of the enzyme throughout the murine retina, including the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) and Müller cells. Electrophysiological recordings revealed reduced maximal rod and cone dark-adapted responses in AWAT2-deficient mice compared to control mice. While rod dark adaptation was not affected by the lack of AWAT2, M-cone dark adaptation both in isolated retina and in vivo was significantly suppressed. Altogether, these results indicate that while AWAT2 is not required for the normal operation of the canonical visual cycle, it is a functional component of the cone-specific visual chromophore regenerative pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Alexander V Kolesnikov
- Department of Ophthalmology, Gavin Herbert Eye Institute, University of California, Irvine, California, USA
| | - Sreelakshmi Vasudevan
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio, USA
| | - Paul S-H Park
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio, USA
| | - Vladimir J Kefalov
- Department of Ophthalmology, Gavin Herbert Eye Institute, University of California, Irvine, California, USA.,Department of Physiology and Biophysics, University of California, Irvine, California, USA
| | - Marcin Golczak
- Department of Pharmacology, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio, USA.,Cleveland Center for Membrane and Structural Biology, School of Medicine, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio, USA
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Choi EH, Daruwalla A, Suh S, Leinonen H, Palczewski K. Retinoids in the visual cycle: role of the retinal G protein-coupled receptor. J Lipid Res 2021; 62:100040. [PMID: 32493732 PMCID: PMC7910522 DOI: 10.1194/jlr.tr120000850] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2020] [Revised: 05/20/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Driven by the energy of a photon, the visual pigments in rod and cone photoreceptor cells isomerize 11-cis-retinal to the all-trans configuration. This photochemical reaction initiates the signal transduction pathway that eventually leads to the transmission of a visual signal to the brain and leaves the opsins insensitive to further light stimulation. For the eye to restore light sensitivity, opsins require recharging with 11-cis-retinal. This trans-cis back conversion is achieved through a series of enzymatic reactions composing the retinoid (visual) cycle. Although it is evident that the classical retinoid cycle is critical for vision, the existence of an adjunct pathway for 11-cis-retinal regeneration has been debated for many years. Retinal pigment epithelium (RPE)-retinal G protein-coupled receptor (RGR) has been identified previously as a mammalian retinaldehyde photoisomerase homologous to retinochrome found in invertebrates. Using pharmacological, genetic, and biochemical approaches, researchers have now established the physiological relevance of the RGR in 11-cis-retinal regeneration. The photoisomerase activity of RGR in the RPE and Müller glia explains how the eye can remain responsive in daylight. In this review, we will focus on retinoid metabolism in the eye and visual chromophore regeneration mediated by RGR.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elliot H Choi
- Department of Ophthalmology, Gavin Herbert Eye Institute, Center for Translational Vision Research, University of California, Irvine, CA, USA; Department of Pharmacology, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, USA.
| | - Anahita Daruwalla
- Department of Pharmacology, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, USA; Departments of Physiology and Biophysics, and Chemistry, University of California, Irvine, CA, USA
| | - Susie Suh
- Department of Ophthalmology, Gavin Herbert Eye Institute, Center for Translational Vision Research, University of California, Irvine, CA, USA; Department of Pharmacology, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, USA
| | - Henri Leinonen
- Department of Ophthalmology, Gavin Herbert Eye Institute, Center for Translational Vision Research, University of California, Irvine, CA, USA
| | - Krzysztof Palczewski
- Department of Ophthalmology, Gavin Herbert Eye Institute, Center for Translational Vision Research, University of California, Irvine, CA, USA; Departments of Physiology and Biophysics, and Chemistry, University of California, Irvine, CA, USA.
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