A photoreceptor-specific cadherin is essential for the structural integrity of the outer segment and for photoreceptor survival

Amir Rattner, Philip M. Smallwood, John Williams, Carol Cooke, Andrey Savchenko, Arkady Lyubarsky, Edward N. Pugh, Jeremy Nathans

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

90 Scopus citations

Abstract

A cadherin family member, prCAD, was identified in retina cDNA by subtractive hybridization and high throughput sequencing. prCAD is expressed only in retinal photoreceptors, and the prCAD protein is localized to the base of the outer segment of both rods and cones. In prCAD-/- mice, outer segments are disorganized and fragmented, and there is progressive death of photoreceptor cells. prCAD is unlikely to be involved in protein trafficking between inner and outer segments, since phototransduction proteins appear to be correctly localized and the light responses of both rods and cones are only modestly compromised in prCAD-/- mice. These experiments imply a highly specialized cell biological function for prCAD and suggest that localized adhesion activity is essential for outer segment integrity.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)775-786
Number of pages12
JournalNeuron
Volume32
Issue number5
DOIs
StatePublished - Dec 6 2001
Externally publishedYes

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Neuroscience

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