RPE cell biology, aging, and disease

项目摘要 视网膜色素上皮(RPE)的主要功能是摄取和降解外段视盘 光感受器细胞的膜。这种分解代谢在光传导盘周转中的作用 膜对于光感受器细胞的生存是必不可少的。这一角色的执行效率 Out对RPE细胞的健康也很重要，相关缺陷会导致发病。这个 随后的吞噬小体的摄取和成熟依赖于运动蛋白的活性。这个 拟议的研究重点是了解这种马达蛋白的活性和吞噬小体的相互作用。 有内切溶酶体。该方法将包括高速、活细胞成像分析，以阐明 潜在的细胞和分子机制的动力学。在一系列研究中， 因此，将对Usher1B蛋白、MYO7A和微管马达进行研究，以便提供详细的 了解这些马达如何移动RPE细胞中的POS吞噬小体，以及由此产生的吞噬小体是如何 运动性有助于吞噬小体成熟。结果将提供一个新的水平的理解中央 RPE的功能，与视网膜老化和疾病高度相关。

Project Summary A major function of the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) is to ingest and degrade outer segment disk membranes from the photoreceptor cells. This catabolic role in the turnover of the phototransductive disk membranes is essential for the viability of the photoreceptor cells. The efficiency by which this role is carried out is also important for the health of the RPE cells, with related defects leading to pathogenesis. The ingestion and maturation of the ensuing phagosomes is dependent upon motor protein activity. The proposed research focuses on understanding this motor protein activity and the interactions of phagosomes with endo-lysosomes. The approach will include high-speed, live-cell imaging analysis in order to elucidate the dynamics of underlying cellular and molecular mechanisms. In a series of studies, the function of the Usher 1B protein, MYO7A, and microtubule motors will thus be investigated, in order to provide a detailed understanding of how these motors move POS phagosomes in RPE cells, and how the resulting phagosome motility facilitates phagosome maturation. The results will provide a new level of understanding of a central function of the RPE, with high relevance to retinal aging and disease.