GPCR LIGHT-SENSITIVE CHIMERIC GPCR PROTEIN

摘要

Domains conjugated to produce photosensitive GPCR chimeras capable of binding optical signals to the signaling cascade of metabolic glutamate receptor 6 (mGluR6) and derived from at least two constituent proteins of the G-protein-binding-receptor (GPCR) protein supergroup There is provided a photosensitive chimeric protein for medical treatment and medicament for the improvement of visual acuity, especially for vision loss due to retinal photoreceptor degeneration. The first component of the at least two GPCR supergroup constituent proteins provides a domain that mediates photosensitivity to the chimeric photosensitive GPCR protein. The first constituent protein belongs to a group of photosensitive GPCR proteins, also called photopigments, and in some embodiments the photosensitive GPCR protein is melanopsin, in particular human melanopsin. The second of the at least two GPCR supergroup constituent proteins provides a domain for binding the optical signal to the intracellular signaling cascade of mGluR6, an undenatured component of the cell membrane of ON-bipolar cells in the inner retina.