THE FUNCTION OF BESTROPHIN IN RETINAL DEGENERATION

描述（申请人的描述）：拟议的总体目标 研究的目的是获得有关雌激素基因作用的信息， （VMD2）在视网膜变性中的作用。最佳黄斑营养不良（BMD，也称为 卵黄状黄斑营养不良）是黄斑变性的常染色体显性形式， 退化由VMD2基因突变引起的BMD， 丧失中央视觉。关于这种基因的蛋白质产物知之甚少， 叫做雌激素。在视网膜中，斑萎蛋白特异性地表达于视网膜中的 视网膜色素上皮细胞（RPE）的质膜。在以下 应用程序，我计划进行研究，以了解生理 以及VMD 2在视网膜中的分子作用。第一个具体目标是 确定VMD2基因的突变是否会导致其他形式的视网膜病变。 使用基于PCR的方法， 单链构象多态性和直接基因组测序 技术.在第二个目标中，我计划确定亚细胞定位 用免疫细胞化学方法检测RPE细胞膜中的bestrophin含量。在 最后一个目标，我建议在体外电生理研究以及在 使用小鼠的体内研究。这些研究包括方法，如 室，光，电子和荧光显微镜，基因转移都在 体内和体外，眼电图和视网膜电图。发现 关于雌激素功能的信息有望提供 了解视网膜变性的机制。

DESCRIPTION (Applicant's Description): The overall objective of the proposed studies is to obtain information regarding the role of the bestrophin gene (VMD2) in retinal degeneration. Best Macular dystrophy (BMD, also called vitelliform macular dystrophy) is an autosomal dominant form of macular degeneration. BMD, caused by mutations in the VMD2 gene, leads to a progressive loss of central vision. Little is known about the protein product of this gene, called bestrophin. In the retina, bestrophin is specifically expressed in the plasma membrane of the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE). In the following application, I plan to conduct research toward understanding the physiological and molecular role of VMD2 in the retina. The first specific aim seeks to determine if mutations in the VMD2 gene cause other forms of retinal degeneration such as age-related macular degeneration (AMD) using PCR-based single-strand conformation polymorphism and direct genomic sequencing techniques. In the second aim, I plan to ascertain the subcellular localization of bestrophin in the plasma membrane of the RPE using imunocytochemistry. In the last aim, I propose in vitro electrophysiological studies as well as in vivo studies using mice. These studies include methods such as Ussing chambers, light, electron and fluorescent microscopy, gene transfer both in vivo and in vitro, electrocculography, and electroretinography. Discovering information regarding the function of bestrophin will hopefully provide knowledge about mechanisms involved in retinal degeneration.