11 CIS RETINAL ESTER HYDROLASE IN THE EYE

本研究的目的是研究视黄酯在视网膜病变中的作用， 哺乳动物视觉周期 具体来说，我们将进行生化分析 为了评价催化以下物质水解的视黄基酯水解酶， 视网膜色素上皮中的视黄基酯。 此前的结果显示， 表明这种酶对生理上重要的11- 顺式异构体，并且其具有足够高的活性以释放视黄醇， 视色素发色团的前体。 许多详细的生化 酶的性质仍有待探索。 我们建议进一步 检查这种水解酶在质膜中的位置， 酶的可能位置。 我们还计划纯化这种酶， 其在天然膜、溶液和重组中的活性 膜。 我们的调查利用视黄酯在 眼睛将提供与各种眼睛有关的重要信息 紊乱 一名MBRS毕业生和一名MBRS本科生将 参与眼睛视觉生物化学研究的学习。 学生培训将包括设计和执行实验， 参加实验室会议， 实验室期刊俱乐部和国家会议。学生也将 参与研究手稿的准备和合著 在权威科学期刊上发表实验发现。

The objective of this research is to study the role of retinyl ester in the mammalian visual cycle. Specifically, we will conduct biochemical analyses to evaluate a retinyl ester hydrolase which catalyses the hydrolysis of retinyl esters in the retinal pigment epithelium. Earlier results have shown that this enzyme is specific for the physiologically important 11- cis isomer and it has a sufficiently high activity to release retinal as precursor of visual pigment chromophore. Many detailed biochemical properties of the enzyme remain to be explored. We propose to further examine the location of this hydrolase in the plasma membrane which is a possible site of the enzyme. We also plan to purify this enzyme and study its activity in its native membrane, in solution and in reconstituted membranes. Our investigation into the utilization of retinyl esters in the eye will provide important information relating to various ocular disorders. One MBRS graduate and one MBRS undergraduate student will participate in the study of the research of visual biochemistry of the eye. Student training will include designing and performing experiments, participation in laboratory meetings, presentation of research in laboratory journal club and at national meetings. Students will also participate int he preparation of research manuscripts and coauthor publication of experimental findings in refereed, scientific journals.