# RPE cell biology, aging, and disease

> **NIH NIH R01** · UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA LOS ANGELES · 2021 · $449,187

## Abstract

Project Summary
A major function of the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) is to ingest and degrade outer segment disk
membranes from the photoreceptor cells. This catabolic role in the turnover of the phototransductive disk
membranes is essential for the viability of the photoreceptor cells. The efficiency by which this role is carried
out is also important for the health of the RPE cells, with related defects leading to pathogenesis. The
ingestion and maturation of the ensuing phagosomes is dependent upon motor protein activity. The
proposed research focuses on understanding this motor protein activity and the interactions of phagosomes
with endo-lysosomes. The approach will include high-speed, live-cell imaging analysis in order to elucidate
the dynamics of underlying cellular and molecular mechanisms. In a series of studies, the function of the
Usher 1B protein, MYO7A, and microtubule motors will thus be investigated, in order to provide a detailed
understanding of how these motors move POS phagosomes in RPE cells, and how the resulting phagosome
motility facilitates phagosome maturation. The results will provide a new level of understanding of a central
function of the RPE, with high relevance to retinal aging and disease.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10165720
- **Project number:** 5R01EY027442-05
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA LOS ANGELES
- **Principal Investigator:** DAVID S WILLIAMS
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2021
- **Award amount:** $449,187
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2017-09-01 → 2023-05-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10165720

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10165720, RPE cell biology, aging, and disease (5R01EY027442-05). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10165720. Licensed CC0.

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