Related Experiment Video
Updated: Oct 24, 2025
08:18
Author Spotlight: Unraveling Vitamin A Transport Mechanisms — Linking Liver Receptors to Vision Health Through RBPR2 and RBP4 Interactions
Published on: October 4, 2024
1.3K
Vitamin A cycle byproducts impede dark adaptation
Dan Zhang1, Kiera Robinson1, Leonide Saad1
1Columbia University Medical Center, New York, New York, USA.
The Journal of Biological Chemistry
|August 15, 2021
Summary
Vitamin A byproducts accumulate in the aging eye, impairing dark adaptation (DA). Inhibiting these byproducts with C20D3-vitamin A speeds DA, suggesting a new treatment for age-related vision decline.
Area of Science:
- Ophthalmology
- Retinal Biology
- Aging Research
Background:
- Impaired dark adaptation (DA) is a common aging symptom.
- The underlying mechanisms of age-related DA impairment remain unclear.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the role of vitamin A byproducts in age-related dark adaptation.
- To explore the therapeutic potential of inhibiting vitamin A byproduct formation.
Main Methods:
- Quantified vitamin A byproduct levels in aging human and mouse retinas.
- Utilized C20D3-vitamin A to inhibit byproduct formation in mice.
- Assessed DA speed and retinal function/morphology.
Main Results:
- Vitamin A byproduct levels increase with age in human eyes.
- Inhibiting byproduct formation with C20D3-vitamin A accelerated DA in mice.
- Exogenous delivery of byproducts slowed DA without affecting retinal health.
Conclusions:
- Vitamin A cycle byproducts are sufficient to delay DA.
- These byproducts may contribute to age-related DA impairment.
- C20D3-vitamin A shows promise for treating age-related DA decline.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
01:22Photoreceptors and Visual Pathways
6.9K
At the molecular level, visual signals trigger transformations in photopigment molecules, resulting in changes in the photoreceptor cell's membrane potential. The photon's energy level is denoted by its wavelength, with each specific wavelength of visible light associated with a distinct color. The spectral range of visible light, classified as electromagnetic radiation, spans from 380 to 720 nm. Electromagnetic radiation wavelengths exceeding 720 nm fall under the infrared category,...
6.9K
01:23Role of Skin in Vitamin D Synthesis
6.5K
The skin plays a crucial role in the synthesis of vitamin D, a vital nutrient for various physiological processes in the body. Vitamin D is unique because it can be synthesized in the skin through a series of chemical reactions triggered by exposure to ultraviolet B (UVB) radiation from sunlight.
The solar UV B rays (290-315 nm) are absorbed by the skin, and 7-dehydrocholesterol (provitamin D3) photolyzes it to previtamin D3, which undergoes a rapid transformation to vitamin...
The solar UV B rays (290-315 nm) are absorbed by the skin, and 7-dehydrocholesterol (provitamin D3) photolyzes it to previtamin D3, which undergoes a rapid transformation to vitamin...
6.5K
01:19Pigmentation
3.4K
The color of the skin is influenced by a number of pigments, including melanin, carotene, and hemoglobin. Recall that melanin is produced by cells called melanocytes, which are found scattered throughout the stratum basale of the epidermis. The melanin is transferred to the keratinocytes via melanosomes.
Melanin occurs in two primary forms: eumelanin that provides black and brown pigment and pheomelanin that provides red color. Dark-skinned individuals produce more melanin than those with pale...
Melanin occurs in two primary forms: eumelanin that provides black and brown pigment and pheomelanin that provides red color. Dark-skinned individuals produce more melanin than those with pale...
3.4K
01:32The Retina
72.4K
The retina is a layer of nervous tissue at the back of the eye that transduces light into neural signals. This process, called phototransduction, is carried out by rod and cone photoreceptor cells in the back of the retina.
72.4K
01:30Vitamins
1.4K
Vitamins, derived from the Latin word for life, are essential organic substances required in small quantities for optimal growth and overall well-being. Unlike other organic nutrients, vitamins don't act as sources of energy or building materials but rather facilitate these nutrients' utilization by the body. Vitamins are predominantly coenzymes, assisting enzymes in specific chemical actions, like the oxidation of glucose for energy involving B vitamins. Most vitamins are not produced...
1.4K
02:00Photoreceptors and Plant Responses to Light
26.5K
Light plays a significant role in regulating the growth and development of plants. In addition to providing energy for photosynthesis, light provides other important cues to regulate a range of developmental and physiological responses in plants.
26.5K