Abstract
Presentation Description :
Signaling in the retina plays essential role in our vision. Light is detected by rod and cone photoreceptors that convert it to the electrical response further propagated through the retina circuitry by means of synaptic communication between neurons. To be able to see at low light levels, highly sensitive rods must faithfully transmit the signal that they generate to downstream ON bipolar cells (ON-BC). Critical role in this process belongs to the postsynaptic signaling cascade of the ON-BC initiated by the receptor mGluR6 which is responsible for interpreting light-induced signals generated by the photoreceptors.
Our recent efforts have been focused on identifying players of the ON-BC signaling cascade and deciphering their role in synaptic communication. We have determined the key role in dictating the extent and kinetics of mGluR6 signaling belongs to two members of Regulator of G protein Signaling family- RGS7 and RGS11 that modulate opening of the TRPM1channel. Affinity purification studies identified that these RGS exist in macromolecular complex with an orphan receptor GPR179 that plays critical role in their subcellular targeting. The complex is further scaffolded through extracellular interactions of mGluR6 with several related cell-adhesion like proteins identified in proteomics screens: NYX, LRIT3, LRIT1, and ELFN1. Recent findings pertaining to dissection of this molecular organization will be presented.
This abstract was presented at the 2019 ARVO Annual Meeting, held in Vancouver, Canada, April 28 - May 2, 2019.