Biology subjects

Brockerhoff, S. E.

Publications and source records attributed to Brockerhoff, S. E..

4 recordsLinked to original sources

bioRxiv2020

Daily mitochondrial dynamics in cone photoreceptors

Cone photoreceptors in the retina are exposed to intense daylight, and have higher energy demands in darkness. Cones produce energy using a large cluster of mitochondria. Mitochondria are susceptible to oxidative damage, and healthy mitochondrial populations are maintained by regular turnover. Daily cycles of light exposure and energy consumption suggest that mitochondrial turnover is important for cone health. We investigated the 3-D ultrastructure and metabolic function of zebrafish cone mitochondria throughout the day. At night cones undergo a mitochondrial biogenesis event, corresponding to an increase in the number of smaller, simpler mitochondria and increased metabolic activity. In the daytime, ER and autophagosomes associate more with mitochondria, and mitochondrial size distribution across the cluster changes. We also report dense material shared between cone mitochondria that is extruded from the cell in darkness, sometimes forming extracellular structures. Our findings reveal an elaborate set of daily changes to cone mitochondrial structure and function. O_FIG O_LINKSMALLFIG WIDTH=200 HEIGHT=143 SRC="FIGDIR/small/030262v1_ufig1.gif" ALT="Figure 1"> View larger version (48K): org.highwire.dtl.DTLVardef@101b1f9org.highwire.dtl.DTLVardef@4b79eeorg.highwire.dtl.DTLVardef@1320df3org.highwire.dtl.DTLVardef@131edf5_HPS_FORMAT_FIGEXP M_FIG C_FIG

cell biology↗

bioRxiv2020

Non-photopic and photopic visual cycles differentially regulate immediate, early and late-phases of cone photoreceptor-mediated vision

Cone photoreceptors in the retina enable vision over a wide range of light intensities. However, the processes enabling cone vision in bright light (i.e. photopic vision) are not adequately understood. Chromophore regeneration of cone photopigments may require the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) and/or retinal Muller glia. In the RPE, isomerization of all-trans-retinyl esters (atRE) to 11-cis-retinol (11cROL) is mediated by the retinoid isomerohydrolase Rpe65. An alternative retinoid isomerase, dihydroceramide desaturase-1 (DES1), is expressed in RPE and Muller cells. The retinol-isomerase activities of Rpe65 and Des1 are inhibited by emixustat and fenretinide, respectively. Here, we tested the effects of these visual cycle inhibitors on immediate, early and late phases of cone photopic vision. In zebrafish larvae raised under cyclic light conditions, fenretinide impaired late cone photopic vision, whereas emixustat-treated zebrafish unexpectedly had normal vision. In contrast, emixustat-treated larvae raised under extensive dark-adaption displayed significantly attenuated immediate photopic vision concomitantly with significantly reduced 11-cis-retinaldehyde (11cRAL). Following 30 minutes of light, early photopic vision recovered, despite 11cRAL levels remaining significantly reduced. Defects in immediate cone photopic vision were rescued in emixustat- or fenretinide-treated larvae following exogenous 9-cis-retinaldehyde (9cRAL) supplementation. Genetic knockout of degs1 or retinaldehyde-binding protein 1b (rlbp1b) revealed that neither are required for photopic vision in zebrafish. Our findings define the molecular and temporal requirements of the non-photopic and photopic visual cycles for mediating vision in bright light.

biochemistry↗

bioRxiv2019

Mitochondrial Ca2+ influences photoresponse recovery, metabolism, and mitochondrial localization in cone photoreceptors

Mitochondrial Ca2+ regulates key cellular processes including cytosolic Ca2+ signals, energy production, and susceptibility to apoptosis. Photoreceptors are specialized neurons that have extraordinarily high energy demands and rely on cytosolic Ca2+ signals for light adaptation and neurotransmission. Here we show that unlike other neurons zebrafish cone photoreceptors express low levels of the mitochondrial Ca2+ uniporter (MCU), the channel that allows mitochondrial Ca2+ entry. To determine why MCU expression is kept low, we overexpressed MCU specifically in cones. This increases mitochondrial [Ca2+], causes faster cytosolic Ca2+ clearance, and accelerates photoresponse recovery. Moreover, flux through the citric acid cycle increases despite dramatic changes in mitochondrial ultrastructure and localization. Remarkably, cones survive this ongoing stress until late adulthood. Our findings demonstrate the importance of tuning mitochondrial Ca2+ influx to modulate physiological and metabolic processes and reveal a novel directed movement of abnormal mitochondria in photoreceptors.

cell biology↗

bioRxiv2017

Biochemical Adaptations Of The Retina And Retinal Pigment Epithelium Support A Metabolic Ecosystem In The Vertebrate Eye

Here we report multiple lines of evidence for a comprehensive model for retinal energy metabolism. Metabolic flux, locations of key enzymes and our finding that glucose enters the neural retina almost entirely through photoreceptors support a conceptually new model for retinal metabolism. In this model, glucose from the choroidal blood supply passes through the retinal pigment epithelium to the retina where photoreceptors convert it to lactate. Photoreceptors then export the lactate as fuel for the retinal pigment epithelium and for neighboring Muller glial cells. A key feature of this model is that aerobic glycolysis in photoreceptors produces lactate to suppress glycolysis in the neighboring retinal pigment epithelium. That enhances the flow of glucose to the retina by minimizing consumption of glucose within the retinal pigment epithelium. This framework for metabolic relationships in retina provides new insights into the underlying causes of retinal disease, age-related vision loss and metabolism-based therapies.

biochemistry↗