Beta-arrestin-related proteins in ocular tissues.
OBJECTIVE
Proteins of the arrestin family contribute to the regulation of G-protein-mediated transduction. In this study, the presence of beta-arrestins in ocular tissues was investigated.


METHODS
Mouse monoclonal and rabbit polyclonal antibodies were raised against the peptide Val-Asp-Thr-Asn-Ile-Leu-Glu-Leu-Asp-Thr-Asn-Asp-Asp-Asp-Ile, a sequence present in beta-arrestins 1 and 2 but absent from visual arrestin. These antibodies were used for the immunohistologic detection of beta-arrestins in parafin sections of rodent eyes fixed in Bouin's solution. Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) analysis of RNA from bovine retina, retinal pigmented epithelial (RPE) cells, lens epithelial cells, and human corneal fibroblasts was performed using beta-1 arrestin primers.


RESULTS
In the eye, bet-arrestin staining predominated in RPE, inner segments of photoreceptors, synaptic spherules of rods, inner plexiform layer and ganglion cell fibers, epithelial cells from ciliary body, and vessels. RT-PCR amplified a 480 bp product, corresponding to the predicted length. The sequence of PCR products from bovine retina and RPE cells was identical with the bovine beta-arrestin mRNA.


CONCLUSIONS
beta-arrestins were detected in several ocular tissues. In photoreceptor cells, their specific localization in the synaptic terminals and plexiform layer suggests a role of beta-arrestin in synaptic transmission. In other ocular tissues, the presence of beta-arrestin may be related either to adrenergic signal transduction or to signal transduction mediated by other G-protein-coupled receptors.
Nicolas-Léveque
C
C
Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale, Paris, France.
Ghedira
I
I
Faure
J P
JP
Mirshahi
M
M
D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D019390:Arrestins / Q000032:analysis* / Q000737:chemistry; D015153:Blotting, Western; D002417:Cattle; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D002924:Ciliary Body / Q000737:chemistry*; D017931:DNA Primers / Q000737:chemistry; D004587:Electrophoresis, Agar Gel; D019084:Fluorescent Antibody Technique, Indirect; D006801:Humans; D051379:Mice; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010446:Peptide Fragments; D010857:Pigment Epithelium of Eye / Q000737:chemistry; D011817:Rabbits; D012160:Retina / Q000737:chemistry*; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D000071557:beta-Arrestins
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D019390:Arrestins; D017931:DNA Primers; D010446:Peptide Fragments; D000071557:beta-Arrestins