Abstract
The novel rhomboid-like protein RHBDD2 is distantly related to rhomboid proteins, a group of highly specialized membrane-bound proteases that catalyze regulated intramembrane proteolysis. In retina, RHBDD2 is expressed from embryonic stages to adulthood, and its levels show age-dependent changes. RHBDD2 is distinctly abundant in the perinuclear region of cells, and it localizes to their Golgi. A glycine zipper motif present in one of the transmembrane domains of RHBDD2 is important for its packing into the Golgi membranes. Its deletion causes dislodgment of RHBDD2 from the Golgi. A specific antibody against RHBDD2 recognizes two forms of the protein, one with low (39 kDa; RHBDD2(L)) and the other with high (117 kDa; RHBDD2H) molecular masses in mouse retinal extracts. RHBDD2(L) seems to be ubiquitously expressed in all retinal cells. In contrast, RHBDD2H seems to be present only in the outer segments of cone photoreceptors and may correspond to a homotrimer of RHBDD2(L). This protein consistently co-localizes with S- and M-types of cone opsins. We identified a homozygous mutation in the human RHBDD2 gene, R85H, that co-segregates with disease in affected members of a family with autosomal recessive retinitis pigmentosa. Our findings suggest that the RHBDD2 protein plays important roles in the development and normal function of the retina.