title: Functional expression of electron transport chain complexes in mouse rod outer segments.
abstract: Rod photoreceptors efficiently carry out phototransduction cascade, an energetically costly process. Our recent data in bovine rod outer segment (OS) demonstrated that ATP for phototransduction is produced by an extramitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation, thanks to the expression of the Electron Transport Chain (ETC) complexes and of F1Fo ATP synthase in disks. Here we have focused on mouse retinas, reporting the activity of ETC complexes I, II, IV assayed directly on unfixed mouse eye sections, as well as immunogold TEM analysis of fixed mouse eye sections to verify the presence of ND4L subunit of ETC complex I and subunit IV of ETC complex IV in rod OS. Data suggest the presence of functional ETC in mouse rod OS, like their bovine counterpart. The protocol here developed for in situ assay of the ETC complexes activity represents a reliable method for the detection of ETC dysfunction in mice models of retinal pathologies. In fact, the ETC is a major source of reactive oxygen intermediates, and oxidative stress, especially when ectopically expressed in the OS. In turn, oxidative stress contributes to many retinal pathologies, such as diabetic retinopathy, age related macular degeneration, photoreceptor death after retinal detachment and some forms of retinitis pigmentosa.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacy, DIFAR-Biochemistry Lab, University of Genova, Italy. Electronic address: dcalzia@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Daniela
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Calzia
authors.affiliation: DISTAV, University of Genova, Italy.
authors.forename: Greta
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Garbarino
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, Università di Padova, Italy.
authors.forename: Federico
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Caicci
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, Università di Padova, Italy.
authors.forename: Lucia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Manni
authors.affiliation: DISTAV, University of Genova, Italy.
authors.forename: Simona
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Candiani
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacy, DIFAR-Biochemistry Lab, University of Genova, Italy.
authors.forename: Silvia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ravera
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacy, DIFAR-Biochemistry Lab, University of Genova, Italy.
authors.forename: Alessandro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Morelli
authors.affiliation: Clinica Oculistica, DINOGMI, University of Genova, Genova, Italy.
authors.forename: Carlo Enrico
authors.initials: CE
authors.lastname: Traverso
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacy, DIFAR-Biochemistry Lab, University of Genova, Italy.
authors.forename: Isabella
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Panfoli
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002417:Cattle; D003576:Electron Transport Complex IV / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000378:metabolism; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D051379:Mice; D008928:Mitochondria / Q000378:metabolism; D010085:Oxidative Phosphorylation; D018384:Oxidative Stress; D010786:Photoreceptor Cells / Q000378:metabolism; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species / Q000378:metabolism; D012160:Retina / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D012174:Retinitis Pigmentosa / Q000209:etiology / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D012374:Rod Cell Outer Segment / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species; D003576:Electron Transport Complex IV
keywords: Electron transport chain protein; Retinal diseases; Retinal sections; Rod outer segments; Transmission electron microscopy