Article
Cell Biology
Aleksander Tworak, Alexander Kolesnikov, John D. Hong, Elliot H. Choi, Jennings C. Luu, Grazyna Palczewska, Zhiqian Dong, Dominik Lewandowski, Matthew J. Brooks, Laura Campello, Anand Swaroop, Philip D. Kiser, Vladimir J. Kefalov, Krzysztof Palczewski
Summary: Using a cell-specific gene reactivation approach, we investigated the kinetics of RGR-mediated recovery of photoreceptor responses. We found that both RPE and a specialized subset of Mueuroller glia contribute to scotopic and photopic function, and demonstrated the role of 11-cis-retinal in rapid visual pigment regeneration.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Wenjing Wu, Yusuke Takahashi, Henry Younghwa Shin, Xiang Ma, Gennadiy Moiseyev, Jian-Xing Ma
Summary: The D477G mutation of retinal pigment epithelium (RPE)65 affects visual chromophore regeneration and retinal structure, highlighting the importance of the light environment in its pathogenicity.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Naoya Morimoto, Takashi Nagata, Keiichi Inoue
Summary: This study revealed that human and chicken RGRs form blue-absorbing pigments similar to bovine RGR, and they are bistable rhodopsins displaying a reversible photoreaction. These findings provide insight into the behavior of RGR as a retinal photoisomerase and aid in understanding its role in the visual system.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Made Airanthi K. Widjaja-Adhi, Alexander Kolesnikov, Sreelakshmi Vasudevan, Paul S. -H Park, Vladimir J. Kefalov, Marcin Golczak
Summary: The daylight and color vision of diurnal vertebrates depend on the rapid recovery of cone photoreceptors to changes in light brightness. AWAT2, a key enzyme in the cone-specific visual chromophore regenerative pathway, is found to be essential for M-cone dark adaptation.
Review
Cell Biology
Oliver Vocking, Aide Macias-Munoz, Stuart J. Jaeger, Todd H. Oakley
Summary: Understanding the molecular basis of the evolution of complex systems is a fundamental topic in biology. Animal eyes and phototransduction are exceptional systems to study this question. Comparative studies have revealed the deep diversity of underlying components in visual systems across different taxa. Unbiased genome-wide comparisons and functional validation are necessary to better understand biodiversity and its evolution.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Julian Torres-Dowdall, Nidal Karagic, Andreas Haerer, Axel Meyer
Summary: Research on Neotropical cichlids has revealed a greater diversity in patterns of opsingene expression than previously known, with variations attributed to differential expression of opsins and simultaneous expression of multiple opsingenes in a dorsoventral pattern across the retina. This intraretinal variation in opsingene expression leads to steep gradients in visual sensitivity and may represent a convergent adaptation to clear waters with broad light environments, highlighting the role and flexibility of gene expression in generating adaptive phenotypic diversification.
Article
Chemistry, Medicinal
Eliav Blum, Jianye Zhang, Jordan Zaluski, David E. Einstein, Edward E. Korshin, Adam Kubas, Arie Gruzman, Gregory P. Tochtrop, Philip D. Kiser, Krzysztof Palczewski
Summary: The recycling of all-trans-retinal to 11-cis-retinal through the visual cycle is essential in the eye's metabolic pathway. A new series of emixustat derivatives with strategically placed fluorine and deuterium atoms have been designed to slow down key metabolic transformations of emixustat. Crystal structures and quantum chemical analysis revealed how fluoro substituents can be accommodated within the active site pocket of RPE65.
JOURNAL OF MEDICINAL CHEMISTRY
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Elliot H. Choi, Anahita Daruwalla, Susie Suh, Henri Leinonen, Krzysztof Palczewski
Summary: The text explains the isomerization process of visual pigments in rod and cone photoreceptor cells driven by photons, and the mechanism of visual signal transmission. It discusses the regeneration of retinoids achieved through a series of reactions, as well as the importance of RGR as an adjunct pathway.
JOURNAL OF LIPID RESEARCH
(2021)
Article
Biology
Matthew J. Murphy, Erica L. Westerman
Summary: The spectrum of light that animals can see is determined by the number and sensitivity of retinal proteins called opsins. Terrestrial animals are more sensitive to shorter and longer wavelengths of light, while invertebrates are more sensitive to shorter wavelengths than vertebrates. Different habitats and species have different spectral sensitivities. Evolutionary divergence may limit the extent to which animals can adjust their visual perception.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE ROYAL SOCIETY B-BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
(2022)
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Albert M. Maguire, Jean Bennett, Elena M. Aleman, Bart P. Leroy, Tomas S. Aleman
Summary: Luxturna, the first FDA-approved gene therapy product for a genetic disease, has reversed blindness in individuals with retinal degenerative disease. It has not only transformed the lives of many previously destined to live a life of blindness, but also sparked interest in developing gene therapy treatments for other inherited retinal diseases.
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Jie Shi, Ke Xu, Jian-Ping Hu, Yue Xie, Xin Zhang, Xiao-Hui Zhang, Zi-Bing Jin, Yang Li
Summary: This study described the clinical features and natural course of RPE65-IRD in Chinese patients, revealing age-dependent phenotypic characteristics. Results showed that patients have relatively stable BCVA in childhood and adolescence, but experience rapid deterioration in vision in the third decade of life.
JOURNAL OF CLINICAL MEDICINE
(2021)
Article
Ecology
Oliver Voecking, Lucas Leclere, Harald Hausen
Summary: The study revealed the presence of orthologs of cephalopod retinochrome and RALBP in mollusks outside cephalopods. Additionally, orthologs of retinoid binding protein RLBP1 were found in polyplacophoran mollusks, cephalopods, and a phoronid. The expression of retinochrome, visual rhodopsin, RALBP, and RLBP1 were co-expressed in the larval chiton photoreceptor cells, along with multiple retinal dehydrogenases which may contribute to the rhodopsin-retinochrome system.
BMC ECOLOGY AND EVOLUTION
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Danilo T. Amaral, Isabel A. S. Bonatelli
Summary: This study examines the diversity of putative opsin genes in the Elateroidea superfamily by reusing transcriptome datasets from various families. The study reveals events of duplication and loss in both LW- and UV-opsins in the Elateroidea, as well as the absence of UV-opsin in certain families. The findings suggest selection of different LW-opsin copies in fireflies for mating-related purposes.
INSECT MOLECULAR BIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Feifei Wang, Pol Fernandez-Gonzalez, Eva Ramon, Patricia Gomez-Gutierrez, Margarita Morillo, Pere Garriga
Summary: Trace metals, such as zinc, have important roles in human visual physiology, specifically in the phototransduction process. However, little research has been done on the direct effect of trace metals on the visual photoreceptor rhodopsin. This study investigated the effects of various metal ions on the stability of rhodopsin and found that copper prevents rhodopsin regeneration and decreases its thermal stability, while Fe3+ increases the stability of the dark inactive conformation. These findings emphasize the importance of trace metals in retinal physiology and may have implications for treating retinal diseases.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Marine & Freshwater Biology
Melissa M. Schreiner, Miranda R. Yourick, Scott A. Juntti, Karen L. Carleton
Summary: Cichlid fishes exhibit variation in visual sensitivities through differential expression of cone opsin genes. A. burtoni show a single cone progression from ultraviolet to blue sensitivity during development, while maintaining stable long wavelength double cones. Thyroid hormone and light environment play a role in driving these shifts.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Rui Yokomori, Kotaro Shimai, Koki Nishitsuji, Yutaka Suzuki, Takehiro G. Kusakabe, Kenta Nakai
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Philip Barron Abitua, T. Blair Gainous, Angela N. Kaczmarczyk, Christopher J. Winchell, Clare Hudson, Kaori Kamata, Masashi Nakagawa, Motoyuki Tsuda, Takehiro G. Kusakabe, Michael Levine
Article
Developmental Biology
Kouhei Oonuma, Moeko Tanaka, Koki Nishitsuji, Yumiko Kato, Kotaro Shimai, Takehiro G. Kusakabe
DEVELOPMENTAL BIOLOGY
(2016)
Meeting Abstract
Developmental Biology
Kouhei Oonuma, Takehiro G. Kusakabe
MECHANISMS OF DEVELOPMENT
(2017)
Meeting Abstract
Developmental Biology
Yutaka Daido, Kenta Nakai, Yutaka Suzuki, Takehiro G. Kusakabe
MECHANISMS OF DEVELOPMENT
(2017)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Matija Brozovic, Christelle Dantec, Justine Dardaillon, Delphine Dauga, Emmanuel Faure, Mathieu Gineste, Alexandra Louis, Magali Naville, Kazuhiro R. Nitta, Jacques Piette, Wendy Reeves, Celine Scornavacca, Paul Simion, Renaud Vincentelli, Maelle Bellec, Sameh Ben Aicha, Marie Fagotto, Marion Gueroult-Bellone, Maximilian Haeussler, Edwin Jacox, Elijah K. Lowe, Mickael Mendez, Alexis Roberge, Alberto Stolfi, Rui Yokomori, C. Titus Brown, Christian Cambillau, Lionel Christiaen, Frederic Delsuc, Emmanuel Douzery, Remi Dumollard, Takehiro Kusakabe, Kenta Nakai, Hiroki Nishida, Yutaka Satou, Billie Swalla, Michael Veeman, Jean-Nicolas Volff, Patrick Lemaire
NUCLEIC ACIDS RESEARCH
(2018)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Keiichi Kojima, Takahiro Yamashita, Yasushi Imamoto, Takehiro G. Kusakabe, Motoyuki Tsuda, Yoshinori Shichida
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
(2017)
Article
Ecology
Haiyang Hu, Masahiro Uesaka, Song Guo, Kotaro Shimai, Tsai-Ming Lu, Fang Li, Satoko Fujimoto, Masato Ishikawa, Shiping Liu, Yohei Sasagawa, Guojie Zhang, Shigeru Kuratani, Jr-Kai Yu, Takehiro G. Kusakabe, Philipp Khaitovich, Naoki Irie
NATURE ECOLOGY & EVOLUTION
(2017)
Article
Developmental Biology
Yutaka Daido, Sakurako Hamanishi, Takehiro G. Kusakabe
DEVELOPMENTAL BIOLOGY
(2014)
Article
Cell Biology
Takeo Horie, Ryoko Horie, Kai Chen, Chen Cao, Masashi Nakagawa, Takehiro G. Kusakabe, Noriyuki Satoh, Yasunori Sasakura, Michael Levine
GENES & DEVELOPMENT
(2018)
Article
Developmental Biology
Kouhei Oonuma, Takehiro G. Kusakabe
DEVELOPMENTAL BIOLOGY
(2019)
Article
Developmental Biology
Kouhei Oonuma, Takehiro G. Kusakabe
Summary: The dopaminergic cells in the Ciona larva are derived from a bilateral pair of cells called a9.37 cells at the center of the neural plate, with all descendants of the posterior daughter cells differentiating into dopaminergic cells. The MAPK pathway and the transcription factor Otx are required for the expression of Fer2 in the dopaminergic cell lineage, providing a cellular and molecular framework for understanding the commitment to dopaminergic cells in the simple chordate brain.
Article
Cell Biology
Kouhei Oonuma, Maho Yamamoto, Naho Moritsugu, Nanako Okawa, Megumi Mukai, Miku Sotani, Shuto Tsunemi, Haruka Sugimoto, Eri Nakagome, Yuichi Hasegawa, Kotaro Shimai, Takeo Horie, Takehiro G. Kusakabe
Summary: In vertebrate and Ciona embryos, dorsal midline tissues play crucial roles in patterning the central nervous system, somites, and endodermal tissues by producing extracellular signaling molecules. The floor plate and the endodermal strand in Ciona share gene regulatory programs, with FoxA being a candidate transcriptional activator for midline gene battery. These findings suggest an ancient evolutionary origin of a common developmental program for midline structures in Olfactores.
FRONTIERS IN CELL AND DEVELOPMENTAL BIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Taichi Akahoshi, Madoka K. Utsumi, Kouhei Oonuma, Makoto Murakami, Takeo Horie, Takehiro G. Kusakabe, Kotaro Oka, Kohji Hotta
Summary: Recent work in tunicate supports the similarity between the motor circuits of vertebrates and basal deuterostome lineages. Studying the development of protochordate Ciona, researchers have identified the importance of MN2 neurons in acquiring rhythmic motor behavior. MN2 is essential for the early spontaneous rhythmic motor behavior of Ciona, shedding light on the understanding of development and evolution of chordate rhythmical locomotion.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Nanako Okawa, Kotaro Shimai, Kohei Ohnishi, Masamichi Ohkura, Junichi Nakai, Takeo Horie, Atsushi Kuhara, Takehiro G. Kusakabe
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2020)