The Role of Retinal G Protein-Coupled Receptor in Age-Related Macular Degeneration

Supervisors: Dr Isabel Crane and Dr Fiona Murray

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is the leading cause of blindness in the industrialised world affecting 5% of those over 70 with no effective treatment for the disease. AMD is characterised by an early, progressive degeneration of retinal pigment epithelial cells (RPE), which leads to photoreceptor death. G protein-coupled receptors are a family of cell-surface receptors, which regulate a vast array of physiological processes and are the target for a number of drugs. One GPCR, namely the retinal GPCR, is highly expressed in RPEs and has been implicated in the genetic susceptibility to AMD. This project aims to uncover the role of retinal GPCR and its variants in RPE function and determine its role in the progression of AMD. Primary human RPE cell lines and HEK293 cells, which will be transfected with retinal GPCR, will be used to investigate its role in RPE survival and to dissect the signalling pathways it mediates. Screens will be developed to identify novel ligands for retinal GPCR. Uncovering the role of retinal GPCR has the potential to generate translation research by identifying a novel target or biomarker for AMD. The student will gain training in various cell biology, molecular biology and biochemical techniques.