Name

AOC2 Gene

amine oxidase, copper containing 2 (retina-specific)

Copper amine oxidases catalyze the oxidative conversion of amines to aldehydes and ammonia in the presence of copper and quinone cofactor. This gene shows high sequence similarity to copper amine oxidases from various species ranging from bacteria to mammals. The protein contains several conserved motifs including the active site of amine oxidases and the histidine residues that likely bind copper. It may be a critical modulator of signal transmission in retina, possibly by degrading the biogenic amines dopamine, histamine, and putrescine. This gene may be a candidate gene for hereditary ocular diseases. Alternate splicing results in multiple transcript variants. [provided by RefSeq, Jul 2008]

NRL Gene

neural retina leucine zipper

This gene encodes a basic motif-leucine zipper transcription factor of the Maf subfamily. The encoded protein is conserved among vertebrates and is a critical intrinsic regulator of photoceptor development and function. Mutations in this gene have been associated with retinitis pigmentosa and retinal degenerative diseases. [provided by RefSeq, Jul 2008]

GUCY2D Gene

guanylate cyclase 2D, membrane (retina-specific)

This gene encodes a retina-specific guanylate cyclase, which is a member of the membrane guanylyl cyclase family. Like other membrane guanylyl cyclases, this enzyme has a hydrophobic amino-terminal signal sequence followed by a large extracellular domain, a single membrane spanning domain, a kinase homology domain, and a guanylyl cyclase catalytic domain. In contrast to other membrane guanylyl cyclases, this enzyme is not activated by natriuretic peptides. Mutations in this gene result in Leber congenital amaurosis and cone-rod dystrophy-6 diseases. [provided by RefSeq, Dec 2008]

RAX Gene

retina and anterior neural fold homeobox

This gene encodes a homeobox-containing transcription factor that functions in eye development. The gene is expressed early in the eye primordia, and is required for retinal cell fate determination and also regulates stem cell proliferation. Mutations in this gene have been reported in patients with defects in ocular development, including microphthalmia, anophthalmia, and coloboma.[provided by RefSeq, Oct 2009]

GUCA1A Gene

guanylate cyclase activator 1A (retina)

This gene encodes an enzyme that plays a role in the recovery of retinal photoreceptors from photobleaching. This enzyme promotes the activity of retinal guanylyl cyclase-1 (GC1) at low calcium concentrations and inhibits GC1 at high calcium concentrations. Mutations in this gene can cause cone dystrophy 3 and code-rod dystrophy 14. provided by RefSeq, Jul 2020]

GUCA1B Gene

guanylate cyclase activator 1B (retina)

The protein encoded by this gene is a calcium-binding protein that activates photoreceptor guanylate cyclases. This gene may have arisen due to a gene duplication event since there is a highly similar gene clustered with it on chromosome 6. Mutations in this gene can cause a form of retinitis pigmentosa. [provided by RefSeq, Nov 2009]

SAG Gene

S-antigen; retina and pineal gland (arrestin)

Members of arrestin/beta-arrestin protein family are thought to participate in agonist-mediated desensitization of G-protein-coupled receptors and cause specific dampening of cellular responses to stimuli such as hormones, neurotransmitters, or sensory signals. S-arrestin, also known as S-antigen, is a major soluble photoreceptor protein that is involved in desensitization of the photoactivated transduction cascade. It is expressed in the retina and the pineal gland and inhibits coupling of rhodopsin to transducin in vitro. Additionally, S-arrestin is highly antigenic, and is capable of inducing experimental autoimmune uveoretinitis. Mutations in this gene have been associated with Oguchi disease, a rare autosomal recessive form of night blindness. [provided by RefSeq, Jul 2008]

RAX2 Gene

retina and anterior neural fold homeobox 2

This gene encodes a homeodomain-containing protein that plays a role in eye development. Mutation of this gene causes age-related macular degeneration type 6, an eye disorder resulting in accumulations of protein and lipid beneath the retinal pigment epithelium and within the Bruch's membrane. Defects in this gene can also cause cone-rod dystrophy type 11, a disease characterized by the initial degeneration of cone photoreceptor cells and resulting in loss of color vision and visual acuity, followed by the degeneration of rod photoreceptor cells, which progresses to night blindness and the loss of peripheral vision. Alternative splicing results in multiple transcript variants. [provided by RefSeq, Jan 2016]