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The spatial and temporal expression of outer segment proteins during development of Macaca monkey cones
S Sears1, A Erickson, A Hendrickson
1Department of Biological Structure, University of Washington, Seattle 98195, USA.
Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science
|February 7, 2001
Summary
Monkey cone outer segment (OS) development reveals structural proteins like peripherin appear with opsins. Phototransduction proteins follow opsin expression, suggesting distinct roles in OS formation.
Area of Science:
- Ophthalmology
- Developmental Biology
- Molecular Biology
Background:
- The cone outer segment (OS) is crucial for color vision.
- Understanding the development of cone OS proteins is key to visual science.
Purpose of the Study:
- To map the spatial and temporal expression of proteins in monkey cone OS.
- Investigate the development of structural and phototransduction proteins in S and L/M cones.
Main Methods:
- Immunofluorescence labeling of Macaca monkey retinas from fetal to adult stages.
- Double labeling for cone opsins, peripherin, alpha-transducin (alpha-T), phosphodiesterase (PDE), and rhodopsin kinase (RK).
- Quantification of protein expression patterns as a percentage of retinal coverage.
Main Results:
- Opsins and phototransduction proteins are expressed centrifugally (fovea to periphery).
- Peripherin and opsins co-express, with S cones preceding L/M cones.
- Phototransduction proteins (alpha-T, PDE, RK) express after opsins in L/M cones, and with a delay in S cones.
Conclusions:
- Peripherin's co-expression with opsins suggests a role in OS structural integrity.
- Phototransduction proteins are not essential for OS formation and their expression is not triggered by opsin.
- Temporal differences in S and L/M cone phototransduction protein expression suggest coordinated local signaling.