Researchers have identified a gene that is crucial for the proper development of photoreceptor cells in the retina. The gene works by regulating microexons, tiny fragments of DNA that play an important role in cell function, many of which are found in genes crucial for the cell’s ability to transform light into sight. Experimentally knocking the gene out in zebrafish resulted in severely altered photoreceptors with features that closely resemble retinitis pigmentosa in humans. The findings pave the way for new lines of research that uncover the gene’s role in unexplained causes of heritable retinal diseases, potentially leading to new therapeutic strategies.
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Source: ScienceDaily