Glaucoma-causing myocilin mutants require the Peroxisomal targeting signal-1 receptor (PTS1R) to elevate intraocular pressure

AR Shepard, N Jacobson, JC Millar… - Human molecular …, 2007 - academic.oup.com
AR Shepard, N Jacobson, JC Millar, IH Pang, HT Steely, CC Searby, VC Sheffield, EM Stone
Human molecular genetics, 2007academic.oup.com
Glaucoma is a leading cause of worldwide irreversible visual impairment and blindness and
is a clinically and genetically heterogenous group of optic neuropathies. Specific mutations
in the myocilin (MYOC) gene cause primary open angle glaucoma (POAG) with varying age-
of-onset and degree of severity. We show a mutation-dependent, gain-of-function
association between human myocilin and the peroxisomal targeting signal type 1 receptor
(PTS1R). There was correlation between the glaucoma phenotype and the specific MYOC …
Abstract
Glaucoma is a leading cause of worldwide irreversible visual impairment and blindness and is a clinically and genetically heterogenous group of optic neuropathies. Specific mutations in the myocilin (MYOC) gene cause primary open angle glaucoma (POAG) with varying age-of-onset and degree of severity. We show a mutation-dependent, gain-of-function association between human myocilin and the peroxisomal targeting signal type 1 receptor (PTS1R). There was correlation between the glaucoma phenotype and the specific MYOC mutations, with the more severe early-onset POAG mutations having a higher degree of association with PTS1R. Expression of human myocilin glaucomatous mutations in mouse eyes causes elevated intraocular pressure, which is a major phenotype of MYOC glaucoma. This is the first demonstration of a disease resulting from mutation-induced exposure of a cryptic signaling site that causes mislocalization of mutant protein to peroxisomes and the first disease-gene-based animal model of human POAG.
Oxford University Press