TOPORS, implicated in retinal degeneration, is a cilia-centrosomal protein

• Published in: Human molecular genetics 2011-03, Vol.20 (5), p.975-987
• Main Authors: CHAKAROVA, Christina F, KHANNA, Hemant, CHEETHAM, Michael, KOENEKOOP, Robert K, RIOS, Rosa M, MATTER, Karl, WOLFRUM, Uwe, SWAROOP, Anand, BHATTACHARYA, Shomi S, SHAH, Amna Z, PATIL, Suresh B, SEDMAK, Tina, MURGA-ZAMALLOA, Carlos A, PAPAIOANNOU, Myrto G, NAGEL-WOLFRUM, Kerstin, LOPEZ, Irma, MUNRO, Peter
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Animals; Biological and medical sciences; Cell Line; Cells, Cultured; Centrosome - metabolism; Cilia - genetics; Cilia - metabolism; Danio rerio; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Genetics of eukaryotes. Biological and molecular evolution; Humans; Medical sciences; Mice; Molecular and cellular biology; Neoplasm Proteins - genetics; Neoplasm Proteins - metabolism; Nuclear Proteins - genetics; Nuclear Proteins - metabolism; Ophthalmology; Photoreceptor Cells - metabolism; Protein Transport; Retina - metabolism; Retinal Degeneration - genetics; Retinal Degeneration - metabolism; Retinopathies; Ubiquitin-Protein Ligases - genetics; Ubiquitin-Protein Ligases - metabolism; Zebrafish
• ISSN: 0964-6906; 1460-2083
• DOI: 10.1093/hmg/ddq543

We recently reported that mutations in the widely expressed nuclear protein TOPORS (topoisomerase I-binding arginine/serine rich) are associated with autosomal dominant retinal degeneration. However, the precise localization and a functional role of TOPORS in the retina remain unknown. Here, we demonstrate that TOPORS is a novel component of the photoreceptor sensory cilium, which is a modified primary cilium involved with polarized trafficking of proteins. In photoreceptors, TOPORS localizes primarily to the basal bodies of connecting cilium and in the centrosomes of cultured cells. Morpholino-mediated silencing of topors in zebrafish embryos demonstrates in another species a comparable retinal problem as seen in humans, resulting in defective retinal development and failure to form outer segments. These defects can be rescued by mRNA encoding human TOPORS. Taken together, our data suggest that TOPORS may play a key role in regulating primary cilia-dependent photoreceptor development and function. Additionally, it is well known that mutations in other ciliary proteins cause retinal degeneration, which may explain why mutations in TOPORS result in the same phenotype.