title: RET-RGS, a retina-specific regulator of G-protein signaling, is located in synaptic regions of the rat retina.
abstract: RGS (regulators of G protein signaling) proteins negatively regulate the alpha subunit of G proteins by accelerating their intrinsic GTPase activity. In a previous work, we reported the cloning of a cDNA encoding for a new RGS protein, RET-RGS. We showed that it is specifically expressed in the retina, notably by photoreceptor cells and that it has an in vitro GAP activity on transducin. To understand the role of RET-RGS, and in particular to determine whether it regulates the phototransduction cascade in photoreceptor cells, RET-RGS was immunolocalized on rat retina sections. Whereas no labeling was detected in outer nor inner segments of photoreceptors cells, dense immunoreactive products were localized in the outer and inner plexiform layers which correspond to the regions of synaptic interplay between the different neurons of the retina including the photoreceptor cells. These results rule out a role of RET-RGS on the phototransduction cascade and suggest that it may participate in retina specific synaptic transductions.
authors.affiliation: Institut de Pharmacologie Moléculaire et Cellulaire, CNRS UPR 411 660, Valbonne, France. faurober@ipmc.cnrs.fr
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Faurobert
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Scotti
authors.forename: J B
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Hurley
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Chabre
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D005136:Eye Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D019204:GTP-Binding Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D010786:Photoreceptor Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D020710:RGS Proteins; D051381:Rats; D012160:Retina / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D013569:Synapses / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D005136:Eye Proteins; D020710:RGS Proteins; C107413:RGS16 protein; D019204:GTP-Binding Proteins