title: AIPL1, a protein implicated in Leber's congenital amaurosis, interacts with and aids in processing of farnesylated proteins.
abstract: The most common form of blindness at birth, Leber's congenital amaurosis (LCA), is inherited in an autosomal recessive fashion. Mutations in six different retina-specific genes, including a recently discovered gene, AIPL1, have been linked to LCA in humans. To understand the molecular basis of LCA caused by aryl hydrocarbon receptor-interacting protein-like 1 (AIPL1) mutations, and to elucidate the normal function of AIPL1, we performed a yeast two-hybrid screen using AIPL1 as bait. The screen demonstrated that AIPL1 interacts specifically with farnesylated proteins. Mutations in AIPL1 linked to LCA compromise this activity. These findings suggest that the essential function of AIPL1 within photoreceptors requires interactions with farnesylated proteins. Analysis of isoprenylation in cultured human cells shows that AIPL1 enhances the processing of farnesylated proteins. Based on these findings, we propose that AIPL1 interacts with farnesylated proteins and plays an essential role in processing of farnesylated proteins in retina.
authors.affiliation: Departments of Biochemistry and Biological Structure, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA.
authors.forename: Visvanathan
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Ramamurthy
authors.forename: Melanie
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Roberts
authors.forename: Focco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: van den Akker
authors.forename: Gregory
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Niemi
authors.forename: T A
authors.initials: TA
authors.lastname: Reh
authors.forename: James B
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Hurley
mesh_terms: D048868:Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing; D000818:Animals; D019556:COS Cells; D002352:Carrier Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*; D002460:Cell Line; D002522:Chlorocebus aethiops; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D005136:Eye Proteins; D017353:Gene Deletion; D006801:Humans; D007668:Kidney; D051379:Mice; D016296:Mutagenesis; D029242:Optic Atrophy, Hereditary, Leber / Q000235:genetics*; D017368:Protein Prenylation / Q000502:physiology*; D011499:Protein Processing, Post-Translational; D011506:Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D012160:Retina / Q000378:metabolism; D012441:Saccharomyces cerevisiae / Q000201:enzymology / Q000235:genetics; D014162:Transfection
chemical_list: C403625:AIPL1 protein, human; D048868:Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing; C498604:Aipl1 protein, mouse; D002352:Carrier Proteins; D005136:Eye Proteins; D011506:Proteins; D011994:Recombinant Proteins