Project description:Otx2 has been shown to be non cell autonomously required for photoreceptor cell survival in the adult mouse RPE. This study aims to identify Otx2 DNA binding profile in both RPE and neural retina to i) identify direct targets of Otx2 in the RPE ii) compare Otx2 binding profile in neural retina and RPE to unveil hidden functions in the neural retina. WT and GFP antibodies were used to perform two independent ChIP-seq experiments using Illumina GAIIx.
Project description:Otx2 has been shown to be non cell autonomously required for photoreceptor cell survival in the adult mouse RPE. This study aims to identify Otx2 DNA binding profile in both RPE and neural retina to i) identify direct targets of Otx2 in the RPE ii) compare Otx2 binding profile in neural retina and RPE to unveil hidden functions in the neural retina.
Project description:One of the major biological functions accomplished by the retinal pigmented epithelium (RPE) is the clearance of shed photoreceptor outer segments (POS) through a multistep process referred to as phagocytosis. Phagocytosis helps maintain the viability of photoreceptors which otherwise could succumb to the high metabolic flux and photo-oxidative stress associated with visual processing. Regulatory mechanisms underlying phagocytosis in the RPE are not fully understood, although dysfunction of this process contributes to the pathogenesis of multiple human retinal degenerative disorders, including age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Here we present an integrated analysis of phagocytosing cultured-RPE cells.