Abstract
Retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) cell phagocytosis of shed photoreceptor rod outer segments (ROS) is vital for retinal function. We examined the role of myosin VI in this process by utilizing micron-diameter plastic beads as a proxy for ROS waste. When placed in the extracellular medium, the beads were phagocytosed by a cultured human RPE cell line (ARPE-19). At the same time, these cells were made to over-express myosin VI with perturbed motor function. We observed that the rates of trafficking of beads within the cell were significantly reduced in the presence of the perturbed myosin VI compared to control cells, indicating that myosin VI plays a role, either directly or indirectly, in RPE phagocytosis.
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