title: A2E, a byproduct of the visual cycle.
abstract: A substantial portion of the lipofuscin that accumulates with age and in some retinal disorders in retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells, forms as a consequence of light-related vitamin A recycling. Major constituents of RPE lipofuscin are the di-retinal conjugate A2E and its photoisomers. That the accretion of A2E has consequences for the cell, with the adverse effects of A2E being attributable to its amphiphilic structure and its photoreactivity, is consistent with evidence of an association between atrophic age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and excessive lipofuscin accumulation.
authors: Department of Ophthalmology, Columbia University, 630 W. 168th Street, New York, NY 10032, USA. jrs88@columbia.edu
authors: Janet R
authors: JR
authors: Sparrow
authors: Nathan
authors: N
authors: Fishkin
authors: Jilin
authors: J
authors: Zhou
authors: Bolin
authors: B
authors: Cai
authors: Young P
authors: YP
authors: Jang
authors: Sonja
authors: S
authors: Krane
authors: Yasuhiro
authors: Y
authors: Itagaki
authors: Koji
authors: K
authors: Nakanishi
mesh_terms: D001284:Atrophy / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D008027:Light / Q000009:adverse effects; D008062:Lipofuscin / Q000378:metabolism*; D008268:Macular Degeneration / Q000378:metabolism*; D010857:Pigment Epithelium of Eye / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000528:radiation effects; D011726:Pyridinium Compounds / Q000378:metabolism*; D012160:Retina / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D012172:Retinaldehyde / Q000378:metabolism; D012176:Retinoids / Q000378:metabolism*; D014801:Vitamin A / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: C112040:A2-E (N-retinylidene-N-retinylethanolamine); D008062:Lipofuscin; D011726:Pyridinium Compounds; D012176:Retinoids; D014801:Vitamin A; D012172:Retinaldehyde