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Macroarray analysis was used to compare equal amounts of cDNA from wild-type and rd/rd (retinal degeneration) mice, collected at P90 when photoreceptor degeneration is virtually complete. A stronger signal for the glycolytic enzyme phosphoglucose isomerase (Gpi1) was observed in the rd/rd sample. Extracellularly, Gpi1 may act as a cytokine, independently described as neuroleukin and autocrine motility factor. Retinal Gpi1 expression was investigated by Northern and Western blot analysis and immunohistochemistry. Double-labelling was performed with antibodies against Gpi1 and calbindin-D, glutamine synthetase, RPE65, calretinin and ultraviolet opsin in order to provide positive cell type identification. Northern and Western blots showed double expression levels per microgram of RNA and protein, respectively, in the rd/rd retina compared with wild-type. However, the total amount of Gpi1 protein per retina was indistinguishable. Gpi1 immunoreactivity was found in ganglion, amacrine, horizontal and bipolar cells, but not in rods, cones, pigment epithelium and Muller cells. This distribution explains why the absolute amounts of Gpi1 protein were not appreciably different between wild-type and the rd/rd phenotype, where rods and cones are absent, whilst the relative contribution of Gpi1 to the total protein and RNA pools differed. Some extracellular immunoreactivity was observed in the photoreceptor matrix around cones in freshly fixed tissue only, which could possibly reflect a role as a cytokine. We propose that glycolysis in Gpi1-negative cells proceeds entirely through the pentose phosphate pathway, creating NADPH at the cost of organic carbon. We hypothesize that the unique metabolic needs of photoreceptors justify this trade-off.

Original publication

DOI

10.1111/j.0953-816X.2004.03417.x

Type

Journal article

Journal

Eur J Neurosci

Publication Date

06/2004

Volume

19

Pages

2923 - 2930

Keywords

Animals, Blotting, Northern, Blotting, Western, Calbindin 2, Calbindins, Carrier Proteins, Eye Proteins, Glucose-6-Phosphate Isomerase, Glutamate-Ammonia Ligase, Humans, Immunohistochemistry, Mice, Mice, Inbred Strains, Mice, Mutant Strains, Neuroglia, Neurons, Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis, Photoreceptor Cells, Pigment Epithelium of Eye, Proteins, RNA, Rats, Rats, Sprague-Dawley, Retinal Degeneration, Rod Opsins, S100 Calcium Binding Protein G, cis-trans-Isomerases