title: Hypothesis: poly-(R)-3-hydroxybutyrate is a major factor in intraocular pressure.
abstract: Short chain poly-(R)-3-hydroxybutyrate (cPHB) is a ubiquitous molecule that readily adheres to others, that is covalently added to proteins and that forms, with polyphosphate, ion channels. High levels of cPHB have been implicated in atherosclerosis and in diabetes. Here, we propose a hypothesis in which cPHB adheres to filaments in the extracellular matrix and this raises intraocular pressure. In a corollary, we propose that a positive feedback relationship between cPHB adherence to filaments, raised IOP and filament stretching constitutes a switch.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, University of Rouen, Mont Saint Aignan 76821, France. victor.norris@univ-rouen.fr
authors.forename: Vic
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Norris
authors.forename: Helene
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Bresson-Dumont
authors.forename: Etienne
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Gardea
authors.forename: Rosetta N
authors.initials: RN
authors.lastname: Reusch
authors.forename: Denis
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Gruber
mesh_terms: D003315:Cornea / Q000502:physiology*; D005109:Extracellular Matrix / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D006885:Hydroxybutyrates / Q000378:metabolism*; D007429:Intraocular Pressure / Q000502:physiology*; D008954:Models, Biological; D011091:Polyesters / Q000378:metabolism*; D000094122:Polyhydroxybutyrates
chemical_list: D006885:Hydroxybutyrates; D011091:Polyesters; C003182:poly-beta-hydroxybutyrate; D000094122:Polyhydroxybutyrates