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Experimental Approaches to the Study of A2E, a Bisretinoid Lipofuscin Chromophore of Retinal Pigment Epithelium

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Retinoids

Part of the book series: Methods in Molecular Biology ((MIMB,volume 652))

Abstract

Bisretinoid lipofuscin compounds that accumulate in retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells are implicated in the pathogenesis of some forms of macular degeneration. In the development of approaches to the amelioration of retinal disorders characterized by enhanced RPE lipofuscin formation, attention is being given to therapies that reduce the production of these damaging pigments. An understanding of the biosynthetic pathways by which these molecules form is essential to the development of these therapies. Thus methods for studying the biosynthesis of these compounds are presented. A tissue culture model is also described whereby a human RPE cell line that is otherwise devoid of bisretinoid lipofuscin compounds is employed and synthesized A2E is delivered to the cells. This approach allows for a population of RPE cells that have accumulated the lipofuscin fluorophore A2E in addition to A2E-free cells.

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Acknowledgments

This work was supported by National Institutes of Health Grant EY12951, the Kaplen Foundation, a gift from Dr. Gertrude Neumark Rothschild, and a grant from Research to Prevent Blindness to the Department of Ophthalmology. JRS is the recipient of a Research to Prevent Blindness Senior Investigator Award.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Departments of Ophthalmology and Pathology and Cell Biology, Columbia University, 10032, New York, NY, USA

    Janet R. Sparrow, So Ra Kim & Yalin Wu

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  1. Janet R. Sparrow
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  2. So Ra Kim
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  3. Yalin Wu
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Editors and Affiliations

  1. David Geffen School of Medicine, Dept. Physiology, University of California, Los Angeles, Charles Young Dr. S. 650, Los Angeles, 90095-1751, California, USA

    Hui Sun

  2. , Jules Stein Eye Institute, UCLA School of Medicine, 100 Stein Plaza, BH-667, Los Angeles, 90095, California, USA

    Gabriel H. Travis

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Sparrow, J.R., Kim, S.R., Wu, Y. (2010). Experimental Approaches to the Study of A2E, a Bisretinoid Lipofuscin Chromophore of Retinal Pigment Epithelium. In: Sun, H., Travis, G. (eds) Retinoids. Methods in Molecular Biology, vol 652. Humana Press, Totowa, NJ. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-60327-325-1_18

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-60327-325-1_18

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  • Publisher Name: Humana Press, Totowa, NJ

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-60327-324-4

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-60327-325-1

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