Grant: Project Grant

Our eyes rely on specialized cells called cone photoreceptors to detect light and enable color vision. In a recent study, we found that these cells are not randomly arranged-they are aligned in a specific pattern across the retina, a process known as planar cell polarity (PCP). This alignment helps optimize how the retina processes visual information. Interestingly, our work established that light itself plays a role in organizing cone cells, revealing a completely new way that PCP is regulated. However, we don't yet understand exactly how light controls this process or how PCP affects vision, both in healthy eyes and in diseases that cause vision loss. In this project, we aim to uncover the details of this light-driven organization of cone cells. First, we will investigate whether light interacts with known PCP pathways or directly guides the alignment of cone cells. We will do this by altering key genes involved in PCP and studying how different light conditions affect cone organization. Next, we will identify the molecular players involved, such as proteins that help cone cells sense and respond to light. Using cutting-edge imaging and genetic tools, we will track how these proteins work together to establish cone alignment. Finally, we will explore how this organization impacts vision. We will test whether disrupting cone alignment affects how well the retina processes images, and whether this process is altered with age or in eye diseases. By understanding how light helps organize cells in the retina, we hope to reveal new insights into vision and identify potential ways to prevent or treat vision problems linked to aging and disease.