Skip to main content

Thank you for visiting nature.com. You are using a browser version with limited support for CSS. To obtain the best experience, we recommend you use a more up to date browser (or turn off compatibility mode in Internet Explorer). In the meantime, to ensure continued support, we are displaying the site without styles and JavaScript.

  • Article
  • Published:

A null mutation in the human peripherin/RDS gene in a family with autosomal dominant retinitis punctata albescens

Abstract

The murine rds (retinal degeneration slow) allele is a semidominant null allele that causes photoreceptor degeneration. The wild–type sequence at the rds locus encodes a photoreceptor disc membrane protein named peripherin/RDS. Mutations in the homologous human peripherin/RDS gene can cause autosomal dominant retinitis pigmentosa, but these are missense mutations or deletions of single codons. No obvious null alleles have been reported in humans, so that the human phenotype corresponding to rds is as yet unknown. Here we report a 2–basepair deletion in codon 25 of the human gene in a family with autosomal dominant retinitis punctata albescens, suggesting that this disease, rather than retinitis pigmentosa, is the comparable human phenotype.

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution

Access options

Buy this article

Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Arikawa, K., Molday, L.L., Molday, R.S. & Williams, D.S. Localization of peripherin/rds in the disk membranes of cone and rod photoreceptors: relationship to disk membrane morphogenesis and retinal degeneration. J. Cell Biol. 116, 659–667 (1992).

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  2. Connell, G.J. & Molday, R.S. Molecular cloning, primary structure, and orientation of the vertebrate photoreceptor cell protein peripherin in the rod outer segment disk membrane. Biochem. 29, 4691–4698 (1990).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. Connell, G., Bascom, R., Molday, L., Reid, D., McInnes, R.R. & Molday, R.S. Photoreceptor peripherin is the normal product of the gene responsible for retinal degeneration in the rds mouse. Proc. natn Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 88, 723–726 (1991).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. Travis, G.H., Brennan, M.B., Danielson, P.E., Kozak, C.A. & Sutcliffe, J.G. Identification of a photoreceptor-specific mRNA encoded by the gene responsible for retinal degeneration slow (rds). Nature 338, 70–73 (1989).

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  5. Begy, C. & Bridges, C.D. Nucleotide and predicted protein sequence of rat retinal degeneration slow(rds). Nucl. Acids Res. 18, 3058 (1990).

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  6. Travis, G.H. et al. The human retinal degeneration slow (RDS) gene: chromosomal assignment and structure of the mRNA. Genomics 10, 733–739 (1991).

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  7. van Nie, R., Ivanyi, D. & Demant, P. A new H-2 linked mutation, rds, causing retinal degeneration in the mouse. Tissue Antigens 12, 106–108 (1978).

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  8. Travis, G.H., Groshan, K.R., Lloyd, M. & Bok, D. Complete rescue of photoreceptor dysplasia and degeneration in transgenic retinal degeneration slow (rds) mice. Neuron 9, 113–119 (1992).

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  9. Kajiwara, K., Hahn, L.B., Mukai, S., Travis, G.H., Berson, E.L. & Dryja, T.P. Mutations in the human retinal degeneration slow gene in autosomal dominant retinitis pigmentosa. Nature 354, 480–483 (1991).

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  10. Farrar, G.J. et al. A three-base-pair deletion in the peripherin-RDS gene in one form of retinitis pigmentosa. Nature 354, 478–480 (1991).

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  11. Orita, M. et al. Detection of polymorphisms of human DNA by gel electrophoresis as single-strand conformation polymorphisms. Proc. natn. Acad. Sci. USA. 86, 2766–2770 (1989).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  12. Berson, E.L. Retinitis pigmentosa and allied retinal diseases: electrophysiologic findings. Trans. Am. Acad. Ophthalmol. Otolaryngol. 81, 659–666 (1976).

    Google Scholar 

  13. Sandberg, M.A., Miller, S. & Berson, E.L. Rod electroretinograms in an elevated cyclic guanosine monophosphate-type human retinal degeneration. Invest. Ophthal. vis. Sci. 31, 2283–2287 (1990).

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  14. Lauber, H. Die sogenannte Retinitis punctata albescens. Klin. Monatsbl. Augenheilkd. 48, 133–148 (1910).

    Google Scholar 

  15. Franceschetti, A., Francois, J. & Babel, J. Chorioretinal Heredodegenerations 229 (Charles C. Thomas, Springfield, Illinois, 1963).

    Google Scholar 

  16. Diem, M. Retinitis punctata albescens et pigmentosa. Klin. Monatsbl. Augenheilkd. 53, 371–379 (1914).

    Google Scholar 

  17. Pillat, A. Tapetoretinal degeneration of the central fundus region. Am. J. Ophthalmol. 13, 1–12 (1930).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  18. Wuestefeld, F. Zur Casuistik der Retinitis punctata albescens. Zeitschr. f. Augenheilk. 5, 110–115 (1901).

    Google Scholar 

  19. Ellis, D.S. & Heckenlively, J.R. Retinitis punctata albescens. Fundus appearance and functional abnormalities. Retina 3, 27–31 (1983).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  20. Nettleship, E. A note on the progress of some cases of retinitis pigmentosa sine pigmento and of retinitis punctata albescens. Royal Lond. Ophthal. Hosp. Rep. 19, 123–129 (1914).

    Google Scholar 

  21. Kinniburgh, A.J., Maquat, L.E., Schedl, T., Rachmilewitz, E.A. & Ross, J. mRNA-deficient β° thalassemia results from a single nucleotide deletion. Nuc. Acids Res. 10, 5421–5427 (1982).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  22. Sanyal, S., Chader, G. & Aguirre, G. in Retinal Degenerations: Experimental and Clinical Studies 239–256 (Alan R. Liss, New York, 1985).

    Google Scholar 

  23. Wataya, T. A histopathological study of retinitis punctata albescens. Jpn. J. clin. Ophthalmol. 14, 552–555 (1960).

    Google Scholar 

  24. Dryja, T.P., Hahn, L.B., Cowley, G.S., McGee, T.L. & Berson, E.L. Mutation spectrum of the rhodopsin gene among patients with autosomal dominant retinitis pigmentosa. Proc. natn. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 88, 9370–9374 (1991).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  25. Sung, C.H. et al. Rhodopsin mutations in autosomal dominant retinitis pigmentosa. Proc. natn. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 88, 6481–6485 (1991).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  26. Inglehearn, C.F. et al. A completed screen for mutations of the rhodopsin gene in a panel of patients with autosomal dominant retinitis pigmentosa. Hum. molec. Genet. 1, 41–45 (1992).

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  27. Sheffield, V.C., Fishman, G.A., Beck, J.S., Kimura, A.E. & Stone, E.M. Identification of novel rhodopsin mutations associated with retinitis pigmentosa by GC-clamped denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis. Am. J. hum. Genet. 49, 699–706 (1991).

    CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  28. Rosenfeld, P.J. et al. A null mutation in the rhodopsin gene causes rod photoreceptor dysfunction and autosomal recessive retinitis pigmentosa. Nature Genet. 1, 209–213 (1992).

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  29. Yandell, D.W. & Dryja, T.P. Detection of DNA sequence polymorphisms by enzymatic amplification and direct genomic sequencing. Am. J. hum. Genet. 45, 547–555 (1989).

    CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  30. Yandell, D.W. & Dryja, T.P. in Cold Spring Harbor Symposium Series: Cancer Cells 7 - Molecular Diagnostics of Human Cancer (eds Furth, M. & Greaves, M.) 223–227 (Cold Spring Harbor Press, New York, 1989).

  31. Berson, E.L., Gouras, P. & Gunkel, R.D. Rod responses in retinitis pigmentosa, dominantly inherited. Arch. Ophthalmol. 80, 58–67 (1968).

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  32. Reichel, E., Bruce, A.M., Sandberg, M.A. & Berson, E.L. An electroretinographic and molecular genetic study of X-linked cone degeneration. Am. J. Ophthalmol. 108, 540–547 (1989).

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Kajiwara, K., Sandberg, M., Berson, E. et al. A null mutation in the human peripherin/RDS gene in a family with autosomal dominant retinitis punctata albescens. Nat Genet 3, 208–212 (1993). https://doi.org/10.1038/ng0393-208

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/ng0393-208

This article is cited by

Search

Quick links

Nature Briefing

Sign up for the Nature Briefing newsletter — what matters in science, free to your inbox daily.

Get the most important science stories of the day, free in your inbox. Sign up for Nature Briefing