Gβ5 is required for normal light responses and morphology of retinal ON-bipolar cells

A Rao, R Dallman, S Henderson… - Journal of …, 2007 - Soc Neuroscience
A Rao, R Dallman, S Henderson, CK Chen
Journal of Neuroscience, 2007Soc Neuroscience
Gβ5 exists as two splice variants, Gβ5-S and Gβ5-L, which interact with and stabilize the R7
members of the regulators of G-protein signaling (RGSs): RGS6, RGS7, RGS9, and RGS11.
Although the role of Gβ5-L and RGS9-1 is established in photoreceptors, the physiological
functions of Gβ5-S and other R7 RGS proteins remain unclear. We found that the
electroretinogram of Gβ5−/− mice lacks the b-wave component and that Gβ5-S and RGS11
colocalize with Goα at the tips of the ON-bipolar cell dendrites. Unexpectedly, we found a …
Gβ5 exists as two splice variants, Gβ5-S and Gβ5-L, which interact with and stabilize the R7 members of the regulators of G-protein signaling (RGSs): RGS6, RGS7, RGS9, and RGS11. Although the role of Gβ5-L and RGS9-1 is established in photoreceptors, the physiological functions of Gβ5-S and other R7 RGS proteins remain unclear. We found that the electroretinogram of Gβ5−/− mice lacks the b-wave component and that Gβ5-S and RGS11 colocalize with Goα at the tips of the ON-bipolar cell dendrites. Unexpectedly, we found a significant reduction in the number of synaptic triads in the outer plexiform layer (OPL) of the Gβ5−/− mice, which is evident at postnatal day 14. Transgenic expression of Gβ5-L in rods failed to rescue the b-wave or the OPL defects. These results indicate that Gβ5-S is indispensable for OPL integrity and normal light responses of the retina.
Soc Neuroscience