About 5% of human Retinitis Pigmentosa (RP) and 10% of Leber Congenital Amaurosis (LCA) are caused by mutations in the extracellular domain of the apical polarity protein Crumbs1 (CRB1). However, the detailed molecular etiologies of CRB1-related RP and LCA are unclear. Zebrafish retina is a very good vertebrate model to study human retinal degeneration diseases because zebrafish and human retinas are similar in both tissue structure and function. For example, zebrafish retinal development and maintenance also require Crb proteins. Previously, we discovered that zebrafish Crb2a and Crb2b play important roles in cone mosaic pattern formation and in cone survival; in addition, Crb1 is also expressed in the retina. However, we still need to decipher the molecular mechanisms by which Crb carry out their functions as well as how dysfunction of Crb proteins contributes to photoreceptor degeneration. To better understand the retinal functions of Crb proteins, we here propose to investigate the following questions: the mechanisms by which Crb1 and Crb2a/2b localize to different subcellular regions, the functions of Crb for photoreceptor outer segment development, and the Crb-based molecular mechanism of photoreceptor maintenance. The completion of this research will take us one step closer to reaching our long-term goal of finding effective treatments for human retinal degenerative conditions caused by malfunctions of polarity proteins.

Public Health Relevance

Retinitis Pigmentosa (RP) and Leber Congenital Amaurosis (LCA) are among the many retinal degenerative diseases that affect millions of people. The proposed research will help us to better understand the molecular etiologies of CRB1-related human RP and LCA diseases. The study may also provide clues to the etiologies of other retinal degenerative diseases. Ultimately, this research will contribute to finding effective treatments fo human retinal degenerative conditions.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Eye Institute (NEI)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01EY025638-04
Application #
9647454
Study Section
Biology of the Visual System Study Section (BVS)
Program Officer
Neuhold, Lisa
Project Start
2016-03-01
Project End
2021-02-28
Budget Start
2019-03-01
Budget End
2020-02-29
Support Year
4
Fiscal Year
2019
Total Cost
Indirect Cost
Name
University of Pittsburgh
Department
Ophthalmology
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
004514360
City
Pittsburgh
State
PA
Country
United States
Zip Code
15260
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Fu, Jinling; Nagashima, Mikiko; Guo, Chuanyu et al. (2018) Novel Animal Model of Crumbs-Dependent Progressive Retinal Degeneration That Targets Specific Cone Subtypes. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 59:505-518
Yang, Xiaojun; Fu, Jinling; Wei, Xiangyun (2017) Expression patterns of zebrafish nocturnin genes and the transcriptional activity of the frog nocturnin promoter in zebrafish rod photoreceptors. Mol Vis 23:1039-1047
Fang, Wei; Guo, Chuanyu; Wei, Xiangyun (2017) Rainbow Enhancers Regulate Restrictive Transcription in Teleost Green, Red, and Blue Cones. J Neurosci 37:2834-2848