Up-regulation and increased phosphorylation of protein kinase C (PKC) delta, mu and theta in the degenerating rd1 mouse retina.

• The rd1 mouse serves as a model for inherited photoreceptor degeneration: retinitis pigmentosa. Microarray techniques were employed to compare the transcriptomes of rd1 and congenic wild-type retinas at postnatal day 11, when degenerative processes have started but most photoreceptors are still present. Of the several genes that were differentially expressed, focus was put on those associated with the protein kinase C (PKC) signaling pathway, in particular PKCδ, μ and θ. Microarray identified these as being up-regulated in the rd1 retina, which was confirmed by QRT-PCR. Western blotting and immunostaining, using antibodies against either total or phosphorylated variants of the PKC isoforms, revealed increased expression and phosphorylation of PKCδ, μ and θ in the rd1 retina at the protein level as well. Our results suggest that these PKC isoforms are involved in rd1 degeneration.

Subject headings

MEDICIN OCH HÄLSOVETENSKAP  -- Medicinska och farmaceutiska grundvetenskaper (hsv//swe)

MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES  -- Basic Medicine (hsv//eng)

MEDICIN OCH HÄLSOVETENSKAP  -- Klinisk medicin -- Annan klinisk medicin (hsv//swe)

MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES  -- Clinical Medicine -- Other Clinical Medicine (hsv//eng)

Keyword

Apoptosis

Kinase

Microarray

Photoreceptor

Signaling pathways

Publication and Content Type

art (subject category)

ref (subject category)