The Expression of Palladin in the Retinal Pigmented Epithelium and
its Possible Role in Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition
Katrina Powell / kpowell2@bellarmine.edu / Faculty
Advisor: Steven Wilt
This study investigates the expression of Palladin, a
phosphoprotein product of the PALLD gene, in the retinal pigmented epithelium
(RPE). Palladin is an actin cross-linking protein and plays a role in cell
adhesion and motility. Published reports have demonstrated that a down
regulation of Palladin in colon cancer cells results in a reorganization of the
actin cytoskeleton, causing the cells to lose their typical shape, become
proliferative and migratory. This process is otherwise known as
epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT). A similar EMT phenomenon is observed
when the RPE is exposed to the vitreous humor in patients with proliferative
vitreoretinopathy (PVR). In this study, the expression of Palladin is
investigated in primary cultures of pig retinal pigmented epithelium in both
normal and vitreous exposed cells. Reverse transcription polymerase chain
reaction (RT-PCR) and western blotting were performed to demonstrate mRNA and
protein expression, respectively. Palladin was seen expressed in the RPE cells;
however, there was no notable difference in the expression of Palladin mRNA in
vitreous exposed cells versus the control cells. The immunoblotting analysis
was inconclusive. More research will be necessary to see if Palladin plays a
role in the RPE.
Accepted for presentation at the Kentucky Honors Roundtable,
February 28, 2021.
