Looking at the connection between proline transport and macular health

Dr David Sauer, University of Oxford - £25,000

Macular health relies heavily on an amino acid called proline. It is a precursor for one of the nutrients that the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) is responsible for supplying to the photoreceptors of the macula. Proline is transferred using a transporter protein called SIT-1.

What is the problem?

Mutations of the SIT-1 transporter gene leads to a lack of proline movement, resulting in macular damage and conditions such as age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and Macular Telangiectasia type 2. Correcting these mutations in the SIT-1 transporter could potentially improve nutrient flow to the photoreceptors, offering a way to maintain vision.

What are they doing and how will this help?

This team has already studied SIT-1 extensively, including looking at how small molecules bind to it. This research project will extend this work by testing how proline transport and metabolism can be optimised for retaining macular health.