The spatial and temporal expression of outer segment proteins during development of Macaca monkey cones.
OBJECTIVE
To characterize the spatial and temporal expression of key structural and phototransduction cascade proteins in the monkey cone outer segment (OS).


METHODS
Retinas from Macaca monkeys from ages fetal day (Fd) 89 through adulthood were double labeled using immunofluorescence for short (S) or long/medium (L/M) wavelength-sensitive cone opsin and either a structural protein (peripherin) or a phototransduction cascade protein (alpha-transducin [alpha-T], phosphodiesterase [PDE], or rhodopsin kinase [RK]). The spatial and temporal patterns of expression for each protein at each age were determined and graphed as a percentage of retinal coverage.


RESULTS
In both cone types, opsins and phototransduction proteins appear first in the fovea and last at the retinal edge. Peripherin appears concomitantly with opsin in both S and L/M cones, but S cones express peripherin and opsin 1 to 3 weeks before neighboring L/M cones. Alpha-T, PDE, and RK are expressed together in the L/M cone OS shortly after L/M opsin appears. Phototransduction proteins are not expressed in S cones until 1 to 3 weeks after the appearance of S opsin and at the same time that neighboring cones are expressing both L/M opsin and phototransduction proteins.


CONCLUSIONS
The concomitant appearance of opsin and peripherin strongly suggests roles in promoting the structural integrity of the developing OS. Phototransduction cascade proteins appear in the developing OS at the same time as one another, but after opsin. The significant lag between their expression and that of S cone opsin indicates that phototransduction proteins are not essential for OS formation, nor does opsin expression trigger their expression. The different temporal but similar spatial expression patterns of phototransduction proteins within S and L/M cones suggests that some local signal(s) coordinates their appearance.
Sears
S
S
Department of Biological Structure, University of Washington, Seattle 98195, USA.
Erickson
A
A
Hendrickson
A
A
D015106:3',5'-Cyclic-GMP Phosphodiesterases / Q000378:metabolism; D000375:Aging / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism*; D005136:Eye Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D005333:Fetus / Q000378:metabolism*; D019084:Fluorescent Antibody Technique, Indirect; D051606:G-Protein-Coupled Receptor Kinase 1; D007381:Intermediate Filament Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D008251:Macaca / Q000196:embryology* / Q000254:growth & development*; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D064531:Peripherins; D011494:Protein Kinases / Q000378:metabolism; D017949:Retinal Cone Photoreceptor Cells / Q000196:embryology / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism*; D017299:Rod Opsins / Q000378:metabolism; D015293:Transducin / Q000378:metabolism; D014785:Vision, Ocular
D005136:Eye Proteins; D007381:Intermediate Filament Proteins; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D064531:Peripherins; D017299:Rod Opsins; D011494:Protein Kinases; D051606:G-Protein-Coupled Receptor Kinase 1; D015106:3',5'-Cyclic-GMP Phosphodiesterases; D015293:Transducin