A mutation in the cone-specific pde6 gene causes rapid cone photoreceptor degeneration in zebrafish.
Photoreceptor degeneration is a common cause of inherited blindness worldwide. We have identified a blind zebrafish mutant with rapid degeneration of cone photoreceptors caused by a mutation in the cone phosphodiesterase c (pde6c) gene, a key regulatory component in cone phototransduction. Some rods also degenerate, primarily in areas with a low density of rods. Rod photoreceptors in areas of the retina that always have a high density of rods are protected from degeneration. Our findings demonstrate that, analogous to what happens to rod photoreceptors in the rd1 mouse model, loss of cone phosphodiesterase leads to rapid degeneration of cone photoreceptors. Furthermore, we propose that cell density plays a key role in determining whether rod photoreceptors degenerate as a secondary consequence to cone degeneration. Our zebrafish mutant serves as a model for developing therapeutic treatments for photoreceptor degeneration in humans.
Stearns
George
G
Department of Biochemistry, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, Washington 98195, USA.
Evangelista
Meradelfa
M
Fadool
James M
JM
Brockerhoff
Susan E
SE
D000818:Animals; D002452:Cell Count; D054707:Cyclic Nucleotide Phosphodiesterases, Type 6 / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D018450:Disease Progression; D004596:Electroretinography; D005808:Genes, Recessive; D009154:Mutation / Q000235:genetics*; D017949:Retinal Cone Photoreceptor Cells / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000473:pathology; D012162:Retinal Degeneration / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology; D017948:Retinal Rod Photoreceptor Cells / Q000473:pathology; D015027:Zebrafish
D054707:Cyclic Nucleotide Phosphodiesterases, Type 6