CLRN1 is nonessential in the mouse retina but is required for cochlear hair cell development.

Mutations in the CLRN1 gene cause Usher syndrome type 3 (USH3), a human disease characterized by progressive blindness and deafness. Clarin 1, the protein product of CLRN1, is a four-transmembrane protein predicted to be associated with ribbon synapses of photoreceptors and cochlear hair cells, and...

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Main Authors: Scott F Geller, Karen I Guerin, Meike Visel, Aaron Pham, Edwin S Lee, Amiel A Dror, Karen B Avraham, Toshinori Hayashi, Catherine A Ray, Thomas A Reh, Olivia Bermingham-McDonogh, William J Triffo, Shaowen Bao, Juha Isosomppi, Hanna Västinsalo, Eeva-Marja Sankila, John G Flannery
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Public Library of Science (PLoS) 2009-08-01
Series:PLoS Genetics
Online Access:http://europepmc.org/articles/PMC2719914?pdf=render
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author Scott F Geller
Karen I Guerin
Meike Visel
Aaron Pham
Edwin S Lee
Amiel A Dror
Karen B Avraham
Toshinori Hayashi
Catherine A Ray
Thomas A Reh
Olivia Bermingham-McDonogh
William J Triffo
Shaowen Bao
Juha Isosomppi
Hanna Västinsalo
Eeva-Marja Sankila
John G Flannery
author_facet Scott F Geller
Karen I Guerin
Meike Visel
Aaron Pham
Edwin S Lee
Amiel A Dror
Karen B Avraham
Toshinori Hayashi
Catherine A Ray
Thomas A Reh
Olivia Bermingham-McDonogh
William J Triffo
Shaowen Bao
Juha Isosomppi
Hanna Västinsalo
Eeva-Marja Sankila
John G Flannery
author_sort Scott F Geller
collection DOAJ
description Mutations in the CLRN1 gene cause Usher syndrome type 3 (USH3), a human disease characterized by progressive blindness and deafness. Clarin 1, the protein product of CLRN1, is a four-transmembrane protein predicted to be associated with ribbon synapses of photoreceptors and cochlear hair cells, and recently demonstrated to be associated with the cytoskeleton. To study Clrn1, we created a Clrn1 knockout (KO) mouse and characterized the histological and functional consequences of Clrn1 deletion in the retina and cochlea. Clrn1 KO mice do not develop a retinal degeneration phenotype, but exhibit progressive loss of sensory hair cells in the cochlea and deterioration of the organ of Corti by 4 months. Hair cell stereocilia in KO animals were longer and disorganized by 4 months, and some Clrn1 KO mice exhibited circling behavior by 5-6 months of age. Clrn1 mRNA expression was localized in the retina using in situ hybridization (ISH), laser capture microdissection (LCM), and RT-PCR. Retinal Clrn1 transcripts were found throughout development and adulthood by RT-PCR, although expression peaked at P7 and declined to undetectable levels in adult retina by ISH. LCM localized Clrn1 transcripts to the retinas inner nuclear layer, and WT levels of retinal Clrn1 expression were observed in photoreceptor-less retinas. Examination of Clrn1 KO mice suggests that CLRN1 is unnecessary in the murine retina but essential for normal cochlear development and function. This may reflect a redundancy in the mouse retina not present in human retina. In contrast to mouse KO models of USH1 and USH2, our data indicate that Clrn1 expression in the retina is restricted to the Müller glia. This is a novel finding, as most retinal degeneration associated proteins are expressed in photoreceptors, not in glia. If CLRN1 expression in humans is comparable to the expression pattern observed in mice, this is the first report of an inner retinal protein that, when mutated, causes retinal degeneration.
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spelling doaj.art-5b0b5b895c4640a499371880eb763eef2022-12-22T01:08:04ZengPublic Library of Science (PLoS)PLoS Genetics1553-73901553-74042009-08-0158e100060710.1371/journal.pgen.1000607CLRN1 is nonessential in the mouse retina but is required for cochlear hair cell development.Scott F GellerKaren I GuerinMeike ViselAaron PhamEdwin S LeeAmiel A DrorKaren B AvrahamToshinori HayashiCatherine A RayThomas A RehOlivia Bermingham-McDonoghWilliam J TriffoShaowen BaoJuha IsosomppiHanna VästinsaloEeva-Marja SankilaJohn G FlanneryMutations in the CLRN1 gene cause Usher syndrome type 3 (USH3), a human disease characterized by progressive blindness and deafness. Clarin 1, the protein product of CLRN1, is a four-transmembrane protein predicted to be associated with ribbon synapses of photoreceptors and cochlear hair cells, and recently demonstrated to be associated with the cytoskeleton. To study Clrn1, we created a Clrn1 knockout (KO) mouse and characterized the histological and functional consequences of Clrn1 deletion in the retina and cochlea. Clrn1 KO mice do not develop a retinal degeneration phenotype, but exhibit progressive loss of sensory hair cells in the cochlea and deterioration of the organ of Corti by 4 months. Hair cell stereocilia in KO animals were longer and disorganized by 4 months, and some Clrn1 KO mice exhibited circling behavior by 5-6 months of age. Clrn1 mRNA expression was localized in the retina using in situ hybridization (ISH), laser capture microdissection (LCM), and RT-PCR. Retinal Clrn1 transcripts were found throughout development and adulthood by RT-PCR, although expression peaked at P7 and declined to undetectable levels in adult retina by ISH. LCM localized Clrn1 transcripts to the retinas inner nuclear layer, and WT levels of retinal Clrn1 expression were observed in photoreceptor-less retinas. Examination of Clrn1 KO mice suggests that CLRN1 is unnecessary in the murine retina but essential for normal cochlear development and function. This may reflect a redundancy in the mouse retina not present in human retina. In contrast to mouse KO models of USH1 and USH2, our data indicate that Clrn1 expression in the retina is restricted to the Müller glia. This is a novel finding, as most retinal degeneration associated proteins are expressed in photoreceptors, not in glia. If CLRN1 expression in humans is comparable to the expression pattern observed in mice, this is the first report of an inner retinal protein that, when mutated, causes retinal degeneration.http://europepmc.org/articles/PMC2719914?pdf=render
spellingShingle Scott F Geller
Karen I Guerin
Meike Visel
Aaron Pham
Edwin S Lee
Amiel A Dror
Karen B Avraham
Toshinori Hayashi
Catherine A Ray
Thomas A Reh
Olivia Bermingham-McDonogh
William J Triffo
Shaowen Bao
Juha Isosomppi
Hanna Västinsalo
Eeva-Marja Sankila
John G Flannery
CLRN1 is nonessential in the mouse retina but is required for cochlear hair cell development.
PLoS Genetics
title CLRN1 is nonessential in the mouse retina but is required for cochlear hair cell development.
title_full CLRN1 is nonessential in the mouse retina but is required for cochlear hair cell development.
title_fullStr CLRN1 is nonessential in the mouse retina but is required for cochlear hair cell development.
title_full_unstemmed CLRN1 is nonessential in the mouse retina but is required for cochlear hair cell development.
title_short CLRN1 is nonessential in the mouse retina but is required for cochlear hair cell development.
title_sort clrn1 is nonessential in the mouse retina but is required for cochlear hair cell development
url http://europepmc.org/articles/PMC2719914?pdf=render
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