title: Subcellular localization of the sigma-1 receptor in retinal neurons - an electron microscopy study.
abstract: The Sigma-1 receptor (S1R) is known to play a protective role in the central nervous system including the retina. A major barrier for understanding the underlying mechanism is an ambiguity of S1R subcellular localizations. We thus conducted the first electron microscopy (EM) study of S1R subcellular distribution in the mouse retina. Immuno-EM imaging showed previously under-appreciated S1R presence in photoreceptor cells. Unlike in other cell types in previous reports, in photoreceptor cells S1R was found in the nuclear envelope but not localized in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER), raising a possibility of S1R-mediated modulatory mechanisms different than conventionally thought. While in bipolar cells S1R was detected only in the nuclear envelope, in ganglion cells S1R was identified predominantly in the nuclear envelope and found in the ER as well. A predominant localization of S1R in the nuclear envelope in all three retinal neurons implicates a potential role of S1R in modulating nuclear activities. Moreover, its absence in the plasma membrane and presence in the subsurface ER cisternae that are juxtaposed to the plasma membrane in ganglion cells may lend mechanistic insights generally important for frequently reported S1R modulations of ion channels in neurons.
authors.affiliation: 1] Department of Surgery, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, 5151 Wisconsin Institute for Medical Research, 1111 Highland Ave, Madison, WI 53705, USA [2] McPherson Eye Research Institute, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, 5151 Wisconsin Institute for Medical Research, 1111 Highland Ave, Madison, WI 53705, USA.
authors.forename: Timur A
authors.initials: TA
authors.lastname: Mavlyutov
authors.affiliation: Department of Neuroscience, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, 41 Bardeen Medical Laboratory, 470 N Charter Street, Madison, WI 53706, USA.
authors.forename: Miles
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Epstein
authors.affiliation: 1] Department of Surgery, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, 5151 Wisconsin Institute for Medical Research, 1111 Highland Ave, Madison, WI 53705, USA [2] McPherson Eye Research Institute, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, 5151 Wisconsin Institute for Medical Research, 1111 Highland Ave, Madison, WI 53705, USA.
authors.forename: Lian-Wang
authors.initials: LW
authors.lastname: Guo
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002417:Cattle; D015870:Gene Expression; D000882:Haplorhini; D006801:Humans; D042541:Intracellular Space / Q000378:metabolism; D051379:Mice; D009685:Nuclear Envelope / Q000378:metabolism / Q000648:ultrastructure; D020419:Photoreceptor Cells, Vertebrate / Q000378:metabolism / Q000648:ultrastructure; D017729:Presynaptic Terminals / Q000378:metabolism / Q000648:ultrastructure; D021381:Protein Transport; D017480:Receptors, sigma / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D012160:Retina / Q000196:embryology / Q000378:metabolism; D055351:Retinal Neurons / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D000097605:Sigma-1 Receptor
chemical_list: D017480:Receptors, sigma; D000097605:Sigma-1 Receptor