有害的视网膜色素上皮 (retinal pigment epithelial，RPE) 脂褐质是眼底黄斑变性的主要病因之一。荧光类视色素二聚体是发生在视网膜上的正常维生素A循环的副产物，构成了积聚在RPE细胞的脂褐质的主要组成部份。课题申请人近期从Abca4-/-小鼠、牛及人类眼球RPE发现了一个新型的类视色素二聚体色素(A2-DHP-PE)，并且报道了它的分子结构、含量及体内生物合成通路，从而揭示了它与黄斑变性有着密切的关联，也是将来治疗眼底黄斑变性的关键作用靶点之一，但是它在发病过程中的贡献仍然不清楚。另外，A2-DHP-PE的体外合成路线虽然已经打通，但是产率过低。因此本课题主要在前期相关工作的基础上，研究A2-DHP-PE的发病机制和体外合成路线的优化，前者是黄斑区变性治疗方式开发的前提条件，后者将为全面剖析A2-DHP-PE和本课题的顺利实施提供必要的保障，具有非常重要的意义。

Damaging RPE (retinal pigment epithelial) lipofuscin contributes to the etiology of fundus macular degeneration. Fluorescent bisretinoids form as by-products of natural vitamin A cycling in retina and accumulate in RPE cells as lipofuscin pigments. In recent times, topic manager found a novel bisretinoid pigment from the RPE of Abca4-/- mice, cows and human beings, and reported its molecular structure, content and in vivo biosynthetic pathway, thereby revealing its intimate association with macular degeneration and that this pigment also is one of key functional targets guiding the treatment of macular degeneration. However, contributions of A2-DHP-PE to pathogenic process are so far unclear. In addition, in vitro synthetic routes of A2-DHP-PE have been gotten through, but the yield was very low. Therefore, this topic will mainly study its pathogenesis and optimization of in vitro synthetic routes on the basis of these relating early works. The former is a prerequisite of the development of therapeutic approaches to macular degeneration, and the latter will confer necessary supports for overall analysis of A2-DHP-PE and trouble-free accomplishment of this topic; both of them have very important significances.