Synthesis of interphotoreceptor retinoid-binding protein (IRBP) by monkey retina in organ culture: effect of monensin.

Whole monkey retinas were incubated in short-term organ culture with either radiolabeled amino acids or glucosamine. Soluble retinal proteins and proteins in the culture medium were analyzed by SDS-poly-acrylamide gel electrophoresis. Fluorography showed that the interphotoreceptor retinoid-binding protein (IRBP), a 146,000 Mr glycoprotein localized in the extracellular matrix, is synthesized by the neural retina and rapidly secreted into the medium. Secretion is blocked by 10-5M monensin. No significant IRBP synthesis was observed in the pigment-epithelium-choroid complex. IRBP is thus the major component synthesized and secreted by the neural retina into the interphotoreceptor space. This, and its affinity for retinoid makes it a prime candidate for an extracellular retinoid transport vehicle.