RPE65
Encyclopedia
Retinal pigment epithelium-specific 65 kDa protein is a protein
that in humans is encoded by the RPE65 gene
.
to 11-cis retinal during phototransduction, which is then used in visual pigment regeneration in photoreceptor cells.
type 2 (LCA2) and retinitis pigmentosa
.
Protein
Proteins are biochemical compounds consisting of one or more polypeptides typically folded into a globular or fibrous form, facilitating a biological function. A polypeptide is a single linear polymer chain of amino acids bonded together by peptide bonds between the carboxyl and amino groups of...
that in humans is encoded by the RPE65 gene
Gene
A gene is a molecular unit of heredity of a living organism. It is a name given to some stretches of DNA and RNA that code for a type of protein or for an RNA chain that has a function in the organism. Living beings depend on genes, as they specify all proteins and functional RNA chains...
.
Function
The retinal pigment epithelium-specific 65 kDa protein is located in the retinal pigment epithelium and is involved in the conversion of all-trans retinolRetinol
Retinol is one of the animal forms of vitamin A. It is a diterpenoid and an alcohol. It is convertible to other forms of vitamin A, and the retinyl ester derivative of the alcohol serves as the storage form of the vitamin in animals....
to 11-cis retinal during phototransduction, which is then used in visual pigment regeneration in photoreceptor cells.
Clinical significance
Mutations in this gene have been associated with Leber's congenital amaurosisLeber's congenital amaurosis
Leber's congenital amaurosis is a rare inherited eye disease that appears at birth or in the first few months of life, and affects around 1 in 80,000 of the population.It was first described by Theodor Leber in the 19th century...
type 2 (LCA2) and retinitis pigmentosa
Retinitis pigmentosa
Retinitis pigmentosa is a group of genetic eye conditions that leads to incurable blindness. In the progression of symptoms for RP, night blindness generally precedes tunnel vision by years or even decades. Many people with RP do not become legally blind until their 40s or 50s and retain some...
.