Identification of a New Cytosolic Phospholipase A2 Similar to cPLA2 beta in Neural Retina

Abstract

Abstract: : Purpose: Cytosolic phospholipases A2 (cPLA2) are important enzymes in inflammation because of their involvement in the release of arachidonic acid suggesting that they may be involved in different retinal pathologies. The purpose of this study was thus to identify cPLA2s that are specifically expressed in the retina. Methods: Protein sequences of known cPLA2s (alpha, beta, gamma) were compared with NCBI nucleotidic data banks using the tblastn research algorithm to identify new cPLA2s in the retina. Primers have been designed to amplify the transcript by RT-PCR using RNA extracted from human retina as well as from cultured RPE and Müller cells. Several other tissues were also tested for its specificity. Results: The tblastn research algorithm allowed to identify the cDNA coding for a new cPLA2 beta-like protein. This new enzyme is strongly expressed by Müller cells and by the neural retina but not by the RPE. It is also faintly expressed in other tissues. Conclusions: We found that the neural retina expresses a new cPLA2 which bears 51% identity with cPLA2 beta. It possesses all of the characteristic domains of known cPLA2s. The coding sequence of this new cPLA2 beta-like is strongly expressed by the neural retina when compared to other tissues.

Keywords: eicosanoids • lipids • gene/expression