Uncoupling phototoxicity‐elicited neural dysmorphology and death by insidious function and selective impairment of Ran‐binding protein 2 (Ranbp2)

Abstract Morphological disintegration of neurons is coupled invariably to neural death. In particular, disruption of outer segments of photoreceptor neurons triggers photoreceptor death regardless of the pathological stressors. We show that Ranbp2 −/− ::Tg-Ranbp2 CLDm-HA mice with mutations in SUMO-binding motif (SBM) of cyclophilin-like domain (CLD) of Ran-binding protein 2 (Ranbp2) expressed in a null Ranbp2 background lack untoward effects in photoreceptors in the absence of light-stress. However, compared to wild type photoreceptors, light-stress elicits profound disintegration of outer segments of Ranbp2 −/− ::Tg-Ranbp2 CLDm-HA with paradoxical age-dependent resistance of photoreceptors to death and genotype-independent activation of caspases. Ranbp2 −/− ::Tg-Ranbp2 CLDm-HA exhibit photoreceptor death-independent changes in ubiquitin–proteasome system (UPS), but death-dependent increase of ubiquitin carrier protein 9(ubc9) levels. Hence, insidious functional impairment of SBM of Ranbp2’s CLD promotes neuroprotection and uncoupling of photoreceptor degeneration and death against phototoxicity.