Enhanced arrestin proteins to help rod-cell vision when rhodopsin phosphorylation is missing
Structure-function studies of visual arrestin
['FUNDING_R01'] · VANDERBILT UNIVERSITY · NIH-11329240
This project aims to create modified arrestin proteins that help rod cells respond to light when the normal rhodopsin phosphorylation process is defective, which could help people with certain inherited night-vision problems.
Quick facts
| Phase | ['FUNDING_R01'] |
|---|---|
| Study type | Nih_funding |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | VANDERBILT UNIVERSITY (nih funded) |
| Locations | 1 site (Nashville, UNITED STATES) |
| Trial ID | NIH-11329240 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this research studies
Researchers will design mutant forms of arrestin-1 that bind strongly to light-activated rhodopsin even without normal phosphorylation and test their binding in cells and rod photoreceptors. They will attach a biotin-labeling enzyme (AirID) to arrestin-1 to mark nearby interaction partners, purify those proteins using avidin, and identify them by mass spectrometry. Work will include biochemical assays and in vivo labeling in photoreceptors, with the goal of finding effective mutants and mapping arrestin interaction networks. Promising mutants could be advanced to animal testing and considered for future therapeutic development.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates would be people with inherited retinal conditions caused by absent or insufficient rhodopsin phosphorylation that impair rod (night) vision.
Not a fit: People whose vision loss is caused by unrelated problems (for example advanced photoreceptor loss, macular degeneration, or cone-specific diseases) are unlikely to benefit from this approach.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, engineered arrestin proteins could compensate for missing rhodopsin phosphorylation and help restore or preserve rod-mediated vision in affected patients.
How similar studies have performed: Related engineered arrestins have shown proof-of-concept benefits in laboratory and animal experiments, but human testing has not yet been done.
Where this research is happening
Nashville, UNITED STATES
- VANDERBILT UNIVERSITY — Nashville, UNITED STATES (ACTIVE)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: GUREVICH, VSEVOLOD V. — VANDERBILT UNIVERSITY
- Study coordinator: GUREVICH, VSEVOLOD V.
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.