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Mullerian glia in dystrophic rodent retinas: an immunocytochemical analysis.

Mullerian glia in retinas of Royal College of Surgeons (RCS) dystrophic rats and retinal degeneration (rd/rd) mice undergo biochemical and morphological alterations concomitant with photoreceptor loss. To follow the fate of Mullerian glia in these degenerating retinas, two Muller cell-specific markers, carbonic anhydrase-C (CAC) and cellular retinaldehyde-binding protein (CRALBP), were examined by light microscopic immunocytochemistry. In retinas of 1- to 12-month-old RCS dystrophic rats, cell bodies in the inner nuclear layer and radial processes were immunostained for CAC, but appeared to diminish with age. In addition, a material in the region of the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE), representing expansion of Muller cell processes into the subretinal space, was immunolabelled for CAC in retinas of 2-month-old and older RCS rats. The CAC-immunoreactive Muller cells seen in retinas of 12-month-old RCS rats were disorganized, as significant photoreceptor degeneration had occurred by this time. In retinas of 6-week-old RCS rats, Muller cells and their processes were immunolabelled for CRALBP, which spanned from the nerve fiber layer (NFL) through the outer nuclear layer. The density of this immunostaining increased, especially in the subretinal space, with advancing age in RCS rats, seen most prominently in retinas of 9-month-old RCS rats and decreased by 12 months. In retinas of rd/rd mice beginning by day 14, minimal CAC- and CRALBP-immunoreactive material was observed in the subretinal space. By 6 weeks, when a majority of the photoreceptors had degenerated, the CAC-staining pattern appeared significantly reduced and patchy. This study showed that Muller cells in degenerating retinas of RCS rats and rd/rd mice ultimately exhibited decreased immunolabelling for CAC and CRALBP at the more advanced stages of retinopathy, which coincided with the loss of photoreceptors. This is in contrast to the progressive increase in glial fibrillary acid protein (GFAP), an intermediate filament protein, throughout the retinal dystrophy in both animal models.

Age Factors↗

Influence of a retinal pigment epithelial cell factor(s) on rat retinal progenitor cells.

Retinal development was studied by explant culture of retinas from embryonic and neonatal rats in response to medium conditioned (CM) by a transformed neonatal rat retinal pigment epithelial (tnrRPE) cell line. Retinal explants from embryonic days 16 and 18 and postnatal day 2 Long-Evans rats were cultured for over 3 weeks on a poly-D,L-ornithine-coated surface in RPE-CM only, 10% serum or a serum-free defined medium. By 2 days in vitro, round cells were seen emerging from both embryonic and neonatal retinal explants grown in tnrRPE-CM. With extended time in culture, these round cells had increased in number and were seen in large confluent clusters adjacent to the explants. After 2 weeks in culture, some of these cells had undergone a morphological differentiation as shown by process formation. Insignificant numbers of these same cells were seen in explant cultures grown in 10% serum or serum-free defined medium. When isolated and subcultured, approx. 80% of the round cells from embryonic and neonatal rat retinal explants were densely immunolabeled for opsin and arrestin, both photoreceptor cell markers and neuron-specific enolase, a marker for mature neurons. Cellular retinaldehyde-binding protein, a Müller cell marker, immunolabeled approx. 30% of the cells from embryonic and neonatal rat retinal explants. In addition, nestin, an intermediate filament protein found only in neuroepithelial cells, was present in approx. 70% of the embryonic cells, but in only less than 1% of the neonatal cells. Based on this immunocytochemical characterization, these round cells are termed retinal progenitor cells and because of their mitogenic capacity under these in vitro conditions, these cells appear to possess stem cell characteristics. Moreover, in a 3-day bioassay, tnrRPE-CM caused a twofold and greater increase in harvested progenitor cells from both neonatal and embryonic explants, while cell numbers in control and growth factor-supplemented cultures showed no increase above the initial plating density. In these studies, CM from cultures of transformed neonatal rat RPE cells promoted the production, survival, proliferation and maturation of retinal progenitor cells from neonatal and embryonic rat retinal explants.

Animals↗

Interactions of human serum albumin with retinoic acid, retinal and retinyl acetate.

Human serum albumin (HSA), a major plasma protein and plasma-derived therapeutic, interacts with a wide variety of drugs and native plasma metabolites. In this study the interactions between HSA and small lipophilic molecules all-trans retinoic acid (RA), all-trans retinaldehyde (retinal, RAL) and all-trans retinyl acetate (RAC) were investigated by UV-vis absorption spectroscopy, fluorescence spectroscopy and circular dichroism (CD). This paper focuses on investigation of the interactions between HSA and RA by the visible CD. RAL and RAC were used in this study due to their structural identity to RA to elucidate the importance of the end functional group for the complex formation. Our data demonstrate that RA specifically binds to HSA in a stable non-covalent complex at least at two internal binding sites with close but distinct affinities. Upon titration of HSA with RA, visible CD spectra clearly demonstrate the appearance of a well-defined induced positive Cotton Effect (CE) around 350 nm. Beyond ligand-to-protein ratio of 0.8 and up to saturation (2.0), CD exhibits two major bands of opposite signs, suggesting exciton coupling between the chromophore molecules in the protein interior. The fluorescence quenching data suggest proximity of the primary RA binding site to tryptophan (W214). RAC shows a weak association with HSA with stoichiometry close to that of RA, while interactions of RAL with HSA proceed non-specifically at multiple sites. Contrary to RA, the adducts of HSA with RAC and RAL do not show any induced chirality, thus indicating that despite their high structural similarity to RA, both compounds do not appear to occupy the internal binding sites, but associate with the protein exterior.

Circular Dichroism↗

Support for a proposed retinoid-processing protein complex in apical retinal pigment epithelium.

The interaction of cellular retinaldehyde-binding protein (CRALBP) with ERM (ezrin, radixin, moesin)-binding phosphoprotein 50 (EBP50) in retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) microsomes has led to the hypothesis that a retinoid-processing protein complex exists in apical RPE. Mouse RPE apical processes were isolated on wheat germ agglutinin-coated agarose beads. Proteomic analyses of the isolated apical RPE demonstrated the presence of CRALBP, EBP50, 11-cis-retinol dehydrogenase, cellular retinol-binding protein 1, and interphotoreceptor retinoid-binding protein. The results support the hypothesis that a visual cycle protein complex may serve in the localization and release of 11-cis-retinoid in the apical RPE.

Alcohol Oxidoreductases↗

Interphotoreceptor retinoid-binding protein--an old gene for new eyes.

Evolving 40 times independently, eyes are striking examples of convergent evolution in that 11-cis retinaldehyde is always used for photon capture, yet the mechanism for its regeneration may be dramatically different in between systems. In particular, insects, cephalopods and vertebrates show varying physical separation of the cis-->trans photoisomerization and chromphore reisomerization. In the vertebrate retina, these two processes are actually distributed between different cells. This compartmentalization is made possible by the phylogenetic innovation of the two-layered optic cup of the vertebrate retina. This unprecedented design created the subretinal space as a novel anatomical compartment allowing photoreceptors access to the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) and Müller cells, the two cell types which share the burden of 11-cis retinoid regeneration. To take advantage of this arrangement, early vertebrates appear to have recruited for retinoid binding, the betabetaalpha-spiral fold proven useful in enoyl-CoA isomerase/hydratases, and the carboxy-terminal proteases for stabilizing hydrophobic ligands. Quadruplication of this functional domain within a single polypeptide lead to the emergence of interphotoreceptor retinoid-binding protein (IRBP). IRBP is the main soluble component of the IPM, and is prevented from diffusing out of the subretinal space because its large size excludes it from the photoreceptor/Müller cell zonulae adheretes. Despite this physical entrapment, IRBP is rapidly turned over within the IPM through a process that coordinates secretion of the protein by the photoreceptors, and its removal from the matrix by RPE and photoreceptor endocytosis. The present review will summarize what is known about the structure and function of IRBP to anticipate future avenues of research.

Animals↗

A comparison of the efficiency of G protein activation by ligand-free and light-activated forms of rhodopsin.

Activation of the photoreceptor G protein transducin (Gt) by opsin, the ligand-free form of rhodopsin, was measured using rod outer segment membranes with densities of opsin and Gt similar to those found in rod cells. When GTPgammaS was used as the activating nucleotide, opsin catalyzed transducin activation with an exponential time course with a rate constant k(act) on the order of 2 x 10(-3)s(-1). Comparison under these conditions to activation by flash-generated metarhodopsin II (MII) revealed that opsin- and R*-catalyzed activation showed similar kinetics when MII was present at a surface density approximately 10(-6) lower than that of opsin. Thus, in contrast to some previous reports, we find that the catalytic potency of opsin is only approximately 10(-6) that of MII. In the presence of residual retinaldehyde-derived species present in membranes treated with hydroxylamine after bleaching, the apparent k(act) observed was much higher than that for opsin, suggesting a possible explanation for previous reports of more efficient activation by opsin. These results are important for considering the possible role of opsin in the diverse phenomena in which it has been suggested to play a key role, such as bleaching desensitization and retinal degeneration induced by continuous light or vitamin A deprivation.

Animals↗

Insights into the function of Rim protein in photoreceptors and etiology of Stargardt's disease from the phenotype in abcr knockout mice.

Rim protein (RmP) is an ABC transporter of unknown function in rod outer segment discs. The human gene for RmP (ABCR) is affected in several recessive retinal degenerations. Here, we characterize the ocular phenotype in abcr knockout mice. Mice lacking RmP show delayed dark adaptation, increased all-trans-retinaldehyde (all-trans-RAL) following light exposure, elevated phosphatidylethanolamine (PE) in outer segments, accumulation of the protonated Schiff base complex of all-trans-RAL and PE (N-retinylidene-PE), and striking deposition of a major lipofuscin fluorophore (A2-E) in retinal pigment epithelium (RPE). These data suggest that RmP functions as an outwardly directed flippase for N-retinylidene-PE. Delayed dark adaptation is likely due to accumulation in discs of the noncovalent complex between opsin and all-trans-RAL. Finally, ABCR-mediated retinal degeneration may result from "poisoning" of the RPE due to A2-E accumulation, with secondary photoreceptor degeneration due to loss of the RPE support role.

ATP-Binding Cassette Transporters↗

Isomerization and oxidation of vitamin a in cone-dominant retinas: a novel pathway for visual-pigment regeneration in daylight.

The first step toward light perception is 11-cis to all-trans photoisomerization of the retinaldehyde chromophore in a rod or cone opsin-pigment molecule. Light sensitivity of the opsin pigment is restored through a multistep pathway called the visual cycle, which effects all-trans to 11-cis re-isomerization of the retinoid chromophore. The maximum throughput of the known visual cycle, however, is too slow to explain sustained photosensitivity in bright light. Here, we demonstrate three novel enzymatic activities in cone-dominant ground-squirrel and chicken retinas: an all-trans-retinol isomerase, an 11-cis-retinyl-ester synthase, and an 11-cis-retinol dehydrogenase. Together these activities comprise a novel pathway that regenerates opsin photopigments at a rate 20-fold faster than the known visual cycle. We suggest that this pathway is responsible for sustained daylight vision in vertebrates.

Animals↗

Characterization and localization of an aldehyde dehydrogenase to amacrine cells of bovine retina.

An enzyme of bovine retina that catalyzes oxidation of retinaldehyde to retinoic acid was purified to homogeneity and a monoclonal antibody (mAb H-4) was generated. MAb H-4 recognized a single component (Mr = 55,000) in extracts of bovine retina and other bovine tissues. The antibody showed no cross-reactivity with extracts of rat, monkey, or human retinas. A 2067 bp cDNA was selected from a retina cDNA expression library using mAb H-4. The cDNA hybridized with a similarly sized, moderately abundant mRNA prepared from bovine retina. Nucleotide sequence analysis indicated that the cDNA contained a single open reading frame encoding 501 amino acids that have 88% sequence identity with the amino-acid sequence of human hepatic Class 1 aldehyde dehydrogenase. Amino-acid sequence analysis of purified enzyme demonstrated that the cDNA encodes the isolated enzyme. MAb H-4 specifically labeled the somata and processes of a subset of amacrine cells in bovine retinal sections. Labeled amacrine somata were located on both sides of the inner plexiform layer, and their processes ramified into two laminae within the inner plexiform layer. The inner radial processes of Müller (glial) cells were weakly reactive with mAb H-4. Weak immunostaining of amacrine cells was found in monkey retina with mAb H-4, but no signal was detected in rat or human retina. The results provide further evidence for metabolism and function of retinoids within cells of the inner retina and define a novel class of retinal amacrine cells.

Aldehyde Dehydrogenase↗

Regulation of isomerohydrolase activity in the visual cycle.

While the overall biosynthetic pathway leading from all-trans-retinoids to 11-cis-retinoids in the visual cycle is understood, little is known about which step(s) may be rate-limiting and how control is exerted. One possible target for control is the isomerohydrolase, which processes all-trans-retinyl esters into 11-cis-retinol. The basal rate of 11-cis-retinol synthesis from all-trans-retinyl esters is extremely slow using bovine retinal pigment epithelial membranes [3.5 pmol of 11-cis-retinol min-1 (mg of protein)-1], and only small amounts of 11-cis-retinyl ester are formed. However, the addition of retinol binding proteins stimulates 11-cis-retinol formation by a factor of approximately 13. Specific protein-protein interactions are probably unimportant because bovine serum albumin and the physiologically relevant cellular retinaldehyde binding protein (CRALBP) both stimulate 11-cis-retinol formation to the same extent, although CRALBP does so at much lower concentrations. The relatively rapid rate of isomerization in the presence of binding proteins [44.3 pmol of 11-cis-retinol min-1 (mg of protein)-1] suggests that the rate-limiting enzyme in the visual cycle need not be the isomerohydrolase. Also, 11-cis-retinol is shown to inhibit isomerohydrolase, providing a simple mechanism for regulation of the visual cycle and the stimulating effect of binding proteins.

Animals↗

Retinal age pigments generated by self-assembling lysosomotropic detergents.

A universal biomarker of cellular ageing in eukaryotic postmitotic cells is the appearance over time of autofluorescent lysosomal residual bodies called age pigments or lipofuscin granules. Their role in the process of cellular ageing has been debated without resolution. Neither the identity nor mechanism of formation of the fluorophores has been definitively determined. A postmitotic cell type that accumulates large quantities of age pigments is the ocular retinal pigment epithelium. We have now identified the major orange-emitting fluorophore of these pigments using fast-atom bombardment tandem mass spectrometry with collisional activation analysis. It is an amphoteric quaternary amine that arises as a Schiff base reaction product of retinaldehyde and ethanolamine. This compound should display lysosomotropic detergent behaviour which would help explain many of the age-related changes shown in this cell. These results suggest a new role for Schiff base reaction products as lysosomotropic amines in the genesis of cellular age pigments.

Cellular Senescence↗

Addition of human melanopsin renders mammalian cells photoresponsive.

A small number of mammalian retinal ganglion cells act as photoreceptors for regulating certain non-image forming photoresponses. These intrinsically photosensitive retinal ganglion cells express the putative photopigment melanopsin. Ablation of the melanopsin gene renders these cells insensitive to light; however, the precise role of melanopsin in supporting cellular photosensitivity is unconfirmed. Here we show that heterologous expression of human melanopsin in a mouse paraneuronal cell line (Neuro-2a) is sufficient to render these cells photoreceptive. Under such conditions, melanopsin acts as a sensory photopigment, coupled to a native ion channel via a G-protein signalling cascade, to drive physiological light detection. The melanopsin photoresponse relies on the presence of cis-isoforms of retinaldehyde and is selectively sensitive to short-wavelength light. We also present evidence to show that melanopsin functions as a bistable pigment in this system, having an intrinsic photoisomerase regeneration function that is chromatically shifted to longer wavelengths.

Animals↗

Novel retinoic acid receptor ligands in Xenopus embryos.

Retinoids are a large family of natural and synthetic compounds related to vitamin A that have pleiotropic effects on body physiology, reproduction, immunity, and embryonic development. The diverse activities of retinoids are primarily mediated by two families of nuclear retinoic acid receptors, the RARs and RXRs. Retinoic acids are thought to be the only natural ligands for these receptors and are widely assumed to be the active principle of vitamin A. However, during an unbiased, bioactivity-guided fractionation of Xenopus embryos, we were unable to detect significant levels of all-trans or 9-cis retinoic acids. Instead, we found that the major bioactive retinoid in the Xenopus egg and early embryo is 4-oxoretinaldehyde, which is capable of binding to and transactivating RARs. In addition to its inherent activity, 4-oxoretinaldehyde appears to be a metabolic precursor of two other RAR ligands, 4-oxoretinoic acid and 4-oxoretinol. The remarkable increase in activity of retinaldehyde and retinol as a consequence of 4-oxo derivatization suggests that this metabolic step could serve a critical regulatory function during embryogenesis.

Animals↗

Differential mechanisms of retinoid transfer from cellular retinol binding proteins types I and II to phospholipid membranes.

Cellular retinol-binding proteins types I and II (CRBP-I and CRBP-II) are known to differentially facilitate retinoid metabolism by several membrane-associated enzymes. The mechanism of ligand transfer to phospholipid small unilamellar vesicles was compared in order to determine whether differences in ligand trafficking properties could underlie these functional differences. Unidirectional transfer of retinol from the CRBPs to membranes was monitored by following the increase in intrinsic protein fluorescence that occurs upon ligand dissociation. The results showed that ligand transfer of retinol from CRBP-I was >5-fold faster than transfer from CRBP-II. For both proteins, transfer of the other naturally occurring retinoid, retinaldehyde, was 4-5-fold faster than transfer of retinol. Rates of ligand transfer from CRBP-I to small unilamellar vesicles increased with increasing concentration of acceptor membrane and with the incorporation of the anionic lipids cardiolipin or phosphatidylserine into membranes. In contrast, transfer from CRBP-II was unaffected by either membrane concentration or composition. Preincubation of anionic vesicles with CRBP-I was able to prevent cytochrome c, a peripheral membrane protein, from binding, whereas CRBP-II was ineffective. In addition, monolayer exclusion experiments demonstrated differences in the rate and magnitude of the CRBP interactions with phospholipid membranes. These results suggest that the mechanisms of ligand transfer from CRBP-I and CRBP-II to membranes are markedly different as follows: transfer from CRBP-I may involve and require effective collisional interactions with membranes, whereas a diffusional process primarily mediates transfer from CRBP-II. These differences may help account for their distinct functional roles in the modulation of intracellular retinoid metabolism.

Adsorption↗

Identification of CRALBP ligand interactions by photoaffinity labeling, hydrogen/deuterium exchange, and structural modeling.

Cellular retinaldehyde-binding protein (CRALBP) functions in the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) as an acceptor of 11-cis-retinol in the isomerization step of the rod visual cycle and as a substrate carrier for 11-cis-retinol dehydrogenase. Toward a better understanding of CRALBP function, the ligand binding cavity in human recombinant CRALBP (rCRALBP) was characterized by photoaffinity labeling with 3-diazo-4-keto-11-cis-retinal and by high resolution mass spectrometric topological analyses. Eight photoaffinity-modified residues were identified in rCRALBP by liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry, including Tyr(179), Phe(197), Cys(198), Met(208), Lys(221), Met(222), Val(223), and Met(225). Multiple different adduct masses were found on the photolabeled residues, and the molecular identity of each modification remains unknown. Supporting the specificity of photo-labeling, 50% of the modified residues have been associate with retinoid interactions by independent analyses. In addition, topological analysis of apo- and holo-rCRALBP by hydrogen/deuterium exchange and mass spectrometry demonstrated residues 198-255 incorporate significantly less deuterium when the retinoid binding pocket is occupied with 11-cis-retinal. This hydrophobic region encompasses all but one of the photo-labeled residues. A structural model of CRALBP ligand binding domain was constructed based on the crystal structures of three homologues in the CRAL-TRIO family of lipid-binding proteins. In the model, all of the photolabeled residues line the ligand binding cavity except Met(208), which appears to reside in a flexible loop at the entrance/exit of the ligand cavity. Overall, the results expand to 12 the number of residues proposed to interact with ligand and provide further insight into CRALBP ligand and protein interactions.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

HEK293S cells have functional retinoid processing machinery.

Rhodopsin activation is measured by the early receptor current (ERC), a conformation-associated charge motion, in human embryonic kidney cells (HEK293S) expressing opsins. After rhodopsin bleaching in cells loaded with 11-cis-retinal, ERC signals recover in minutes and recurrently over a period of hours by simple dark adaptation, with no added chromophore. The purpose of this study is to investigate the source of ERC signal recovery in these cells. Giant HEK293S cells expressing normal wild-type (WT)-human rod opsin (HEK293S) were regenerated by solubilized 11-cis-retinal, all-trans-retinal, or Vitamin A in darkness. ERCs were elicited by flash photolysis and measured by whole-cell recording. Visible flashes initially elicit bimodal (R(1), R(2)) ERC signals in WT-HEK293S cells loaded with 11-cis-retinal for 40 min or overnight. In contrast, cells regenerated for 40 min with all-trans-retinal or Vitamin A had negative ERCs (R(1)-like) or none at all. After these were placed in the dark overnight, ERCs with outward R(2) signals were recorded the following day. This indicates conversion of loaded Vitamin A or all-trans-retinal into cis-retinaldehyde that regenerated ground-state pigment. 4-butylaniline, an inhibitor of the mammalian retinoid cycle, reversibly suppressed recovery of the outward R(2) component from Vitamin A and 11-cis-retinal-loaded cells. These physiological findings are evidence for the presence of intrinsic retinoid processing machinery in WT-HEK293S cells similar to what occurs in the mammalian eye.

Aniline Compounds↗

Vitamin A in human skin: I. detection and identification of retinoids in normal epidermis.

In an attempt to identify vitamin A and derivatives (retinoids) specimens of breast skin epidermis (0.5 g) were homogenized, freeze-dried and extracted with chloroform/methanol. The evaporated extract was partitioned repeatedly between petroleum ether and a mixture of ethanol and pH-adjusted water. This yielded 3 fractions of partially purified retinoids. High-pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC) of these fractions revealed the presence of the following retinoids given in order to their abundance in the epidermis: retinyl acyl esters, retinol, 3-dehydroretinyl acyl esters and retinoic acid. Small amounts of other retinoids may also be present. In order to obtain quantitative data it was essential to add internal retinoid standards and to completely hydrolyze the skin in KOH-ethanol before extraction. The retinoids were deconjugated by this procedure but, with the exception of retinaldehyde, were otherwise unchanged. The recoveries of the endogenous retinoids at HPLC were identical to those of the internal standards. The technique was reproducible and could be applied to the analysis of nanograms of retinol and dehydroretinol in small (10-30 mg) skin specimens. The amounts of acidic retinoids were usually below the detection limit of the method (less than 10 ng/g) but the approach may be useful at the higher levels attained during retinoid therapy.

Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid↗

Friend erythroleukemia cell differentiation: induction by retinoids.

Growth in the presence of retinoids was found to induce erythroid differentiation in Friend murine erythroleukemia (MEL) cells in culture. The program of differentiated functions expressed by retinoid-treated cells was quite similar to that promoted by other inducers of MEL cell differentiation. For example, 70% or more of induced cells synthesized hemoglobin which accumulated to a level of 8 micrograms-10 micrograms per 10(6) cells. The level of acetylcholinesterase activity increased two to five-fold in induced cells, and induction by retinoids, like induction by dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO), promoted the appearance of cell surface lumps or 'blebs'. All-trans retinaldehyde, which promoted maximum hemoglobin and acetylcholinesterase synthesis at a concentration of 5 X 10(-7) M, was found to be a more potent inducer than all-trans retinoic acid or retinol, which both showed maximum induction at 1 X 10(-5) M. Like differentiation promoted by DMSO, retinoid-induced differentiation was inhibited by 10(-7) M dexamethasone.

Acetylcholinesterase↗