Retinal degeneration caused by dominant rhodopsin mutations in Drosophila

Dominant mutations of the Drosophila ninaE-encoded rhodopsin are described that reduce the expression of wild-type rhodopsin and cause a slow, age-dependent form of retinal degeneration. A posttranslational event subsequent to the requirement for the ninaA-encoded cyclophilin is disrupted by the dominant mutations. Most of these dominant mutations are missense mutations that affect the physical properties of one of the seven transmembrane domains; another affects the cysteine involved in a disulfide linkage. The results indicate that misfolded or unstable mutant rhodopsin can interfere with maturation of wild-type rhodopsin, and that these cellular conditions may trigger retinal degeneration. In addition, these dominant rhodopsin mutations suppress the rapid degeneration seen in rdgC and norpA flies, indicating that high levels of rhodopsin are required.