Open AccessInvolvement of OA1, an Intracellular GPCR, and Gαi3, Its Binding Protein, in Melanosomal Biogenesis and Optic Pathway Formation
Author(s) -
Alejandra Young,
Elisabeth B Powelson,
Irene E. Whitney,
Mary A. Raven,
Steven Nusinowitz,
Meisheng Jiang,
Lutz Birnbaumer,
Benjamin E. Reese,
Débora B. Farber
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
investigative ophthalmology and visual science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.935
H-Index - 218
eISSN - 1552-5783
pISSN - 0146-0404
DOI - 10.1167/iovs.08-1806
Subject(s) - melanosome , biology , microbiology and biotechnology , heterotrimeric g protein , retinal pigment epithelium , retina , biogenesis , g protein coupled receptor , protein subunit , signal transduction , g protein , genetics , neuroscience , gene , melanin
Ocular albinism type 1 (OA1) is characterized by abnormalities in retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) melanosomes and misrouting of optic axons. The OA1 gene encodes a G-protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) that coimmunoprecipitates with the G alpha i-subunit of heterotrimeric G-proteins from human melanocyte extracts. This study was undertaken to test whether one of the G alpha i proteins, G alpha i3, signals in the same pathway as OA1 to regulate melanosome biogenesis and axonal growth through the optic chiasm.