The formation of stable rhodopsin-arrestin complexes induces apoptosis and photoreceptor cell degeneration

Neuron. 2000 Oct;28(1):129-38. doi: 10.1016/s0896-6273(00)00091-x.

Abstract

Although many different mutations in humans and Drosophila cause retinal degeneration, in most cases, a molecular mechanism for the degeneration has not been found. We now demonstrate the existence of stable, persistent complexes between rhodopsin and its regulatory protein arrestin in several different retinal degeneration mutants. Elimination of these rhodopsin-arrestin complexes by removing either rhodopsin or arrestin rescues the degeneration phenotype. Furthermore, we show that the accumulation of these complexes triggers apoptotic cell death and that the observed retinal degeneration requires the endocytic machinery. This suggests that the endocytosis of rhodopsin-arrestin complexes is a molecular mechanism for the initiation of retinal degeneration. We propose that an identical mechanism may be responsible for the pathology found in a subset of human retinal degenerative disorders.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Apoptosis*
  • Arrestin / metabolism*
  • Arrestins / genetics
  • Drosophila
  • Drosophila Proteins*
  • Endocytosis
  • Eye Proteins*
  • Light / adverse effects
  • Membrane Proteins / genetics
  • Mutation
  • Phosphatidylinositol Diacylglycerol-Lyase
  • Phosphoproteins / genetics
  • Phosphorylation
  • Photoreceptor Cells, Invertebrate / metabolism*
  • Photoreceptor Cells, Invertebrate / pathology
  • Retinal Degeneration / genetics
  • Retinal Degeneration / metabolism*
  • Retinal Degeneration / pathology
  • Rhodopsin / metabolism*
  • Type C Phospholipases / genetics

Substances

  • Arrestin
  • Arrestins
  • Drosophila Proteins
  • Eye Proteins
  • Membrane Proteins
  • Phosphoproteins
  • rdgB protein, Drosophila
  • Rhodopsin
  • Type C Phospholipases
  • Phosphatidylinositol Diacylglycerol-Lyase