GENETICS OF MACULAR DEGENERATION

描述（由申请人提供）：本提案的主要目的是鉴定导致北卡罗来纳州黄斑营养不良的疾病基因，并阐明导致黄斑变性的潜在分子机制。北卡罗来纳州黄斑营养不良（OMIM #136550）是一种常染色体显性、高度渗透性黄斑变性，其特征在于可变表型，包括黄斑中的融合性玻璃疣、黄斑萎缩和脉络膜新生血管形成。 设计了三个特定的目标来测试潜在的中心假设：即北卡罗来纳州黄斑营养不良基因的蛋白产物，命名为MCDR 1，是黄斑正常功能所必需的，并且黄斑变性表型与MCDR 1基因中的突变相关。这三个具体目标是：1）鉴定北卡罗来纳州黄斑营养不良症（Macular Dystrophy，MCDR 1）的疾病基因; 2）表征MCDR 1的mRNA和蛋白质表达谱和功能; 3）研究MCDR 1在小鼠系统中的生物学效应。 研究北卡罗来纳州黄斑营养不良的遗传基础很重要，因为它会导致青少年黄斑变性伴视力丧失。此外，北卡罗来纳州黄斑营养不良与年龄相关性黄斑变性（AMD）具有共同的重要临床特征。玻璃疣是AMD的标志性病变，脉络膜新生血管（CNV）是AMD最重要的并发症之一。它们都存在于北卡罗来纳州黄斑营养不良患者中。因此，这些观察结果使北卡罗来纳州黄斑营养不良成为AMD的独特遗传模型。了解MCDR 1的分子机制将有助于对黄斑变性的发病机制有新的认识。阐明MCDR 1基因的功能可能会增加我们对视网膜细胞生物学的理解，特别是玻璃疣的形成。最后，这项研究可能提供信息，寻求新的策略，治疗黄斑变性。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): The broad objective of this proposal is to identify a disease gene responsible for North Carolina macular dystrophy and to elucidate the underlying molecular mechanisms that lead to macular degeneration. North Carolina macular dystrophy (OMIM #136550) is an autosomal dominant, highly penetrant macular degeneration characterized by variable phenotypes including confluent drusen in the macula, macular atrophy, and choroidal neovascularization. Three specific aims are designed to test the underlying central hypothesis: that the protein product of the gene for North Carolina macular dystrophy, designated as MCDR1, is essential for the normal function of the macula and that the macular degeneration phenotype is associated with mutations in the MCDR1 gene. The three specific aims are: 1) to identify the disease gene for North Carolina Macular Dystrophy, MCDR1; 2) to characterize the mRNA and protein expression profiles and function of MCDR1; 3) to study the biological effect of MCDR1 in a mouse system. It is important to study the genetic basis of North Carolina macular dystrophy, as it causes juvenile macular degeneration with visual loss. Furthermore, North Carolina macular dystrophy shares important clinical features with age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Drusen is a hallmark of AMD and choroidal neovascularization (CNV) is one of the most important complications of AMD. Both of them are present in patients with North Carolina macular dystrophy. Therefore, these observations make North Carolina macular dystrophy a unique genetic model for AMD. Understanding the molecular mechanisms of MCDR1 should lead to novel insights into the pathogenesis of macular degeneration. Elucidation of the function of the MCDR1 gene may increase our understanding of retinal cell biology in general and drusen formation in particular. Finally, this study may provide information for pursuing novel strategies for treatment of macular degeneration.