A new cellular brake on retinal degeneration
Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a leading cause of blindness, and its initial trigger is the death of retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) cells. A study in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences identifies a protein, DAPL1, that protects RPE cells from a form of programmed cell death called PANoptosis. The research shows that DAPL1 works by inhibiting the formation of mitochondria-associated endoplasmic reticulum membranes (MAMs), which are orchestrated by the protein GRP75. When DAPL1 is absent, this MAM formation increases, leading to PANoptosis and RPE degeneration in experimental models of AMD.
Why it might matter to you:
This work provides a direct molecular link between organelle communication and a specific cell death pathway in a major age-related disease. For researchers focused on cellular disruptions in aging tissues, it highlights a novel regulatory node that could be relevant beyond the retina. Understanding such protective mechanisms could inform strategies to bolster cellular resilience in other contexts where similar death pathways are implicated.
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