A novel member of the Ig superfamily, RPE7, expressed on the retinal pigment epithelial cell and Müller cell of the bovine retina.

The retinal pigment epithelium of the vertebrate eye plays a major part in the maintenance of ocular function. To identify molecules involved in the exertion of their physiological functions, monoclonal antibodies against bovine retinal pigment epithelial cells were made. Analysis by immunofluoresence and immunoelectron microscopy showed that one of the monoclonal antibodies named anti-RPE7 stained the cell surface of retinal pigment epithelial cells and Müller cells. The anti-RPE7 antibody was revealed to recognize molecules of 45-55 kDa by Western blot analysis. Molecular cloning of the RPE7 cDNA and sequence analysis of the amino acids revealed that protein RPE7 belonged to the Ig superfamily. The high homology of RPE7 with metalloproteinase inducer suggests that the protein RPE7 might play a role in the matrix (interphotoreceptor matrix and basement membranes) remodeling as well as in retinal pigment epithelial cell migration under pathological conditions.

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