Back to Search Start Over

A thyroid hormone receptor that is required for the development of green cone photoreceptors

Authors :
Douglas Forrest
Lily Ng
Carmen Saltó
Björn Vennström
James B. Hurley
Blair Dorian Dierks
Thomas A. Reh
Maya Srinivas
Source :
Nature genetics. 27(1)
Publication Year :
2001

Abstract

Color vision is facilitated by distinct populations of cone photoreceptors in the retina. In rodents, cones expressing different opsin photopigments are sensitive to middle (M, 'green') and short (S, 'blue') wavelengths, and are differentially distributed across the retina. The mechanisms that control which opsin is expressed in a particular cone are poorly understood, but previous in vitro studies implicated thyroid hormone in cone differentiation. Thyroid hormone receptor beta 2 (TR beta 2) is a ligand-activated transcription factor that is expressed in the outer nuclear layer of the embryonic retina. Here we delete Thrb (encoding Tr beta 2) in mice, causing the selective loss of M-cones and a concomitant increase in S-opsin immunoreactive cones. Moreover, the gradient of cone distribution is disturbed, with S-cones becoming widespread across the retina. The results indicate that cone photoreceptors throughout the retina have the potential to follow a default S-cone pathway and reveal an essential role for Tr beta 2 in the commitment to an M-cone identity. Our findings raise the possibility that Thrb mutations may be associated with human cone disorders.

Details

ISSN :
10614036
Volume :
27
Issue :
1
Database :
OpenAIRE
Journal :
Nature genetics
Accession number :
edsair.doi.dedup.....664903aecd3bfa328f393b59c3f56d55