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Normal Function
The PDE6H gene provides instructions for making one part (called the inhibitory gamma subunit) of an enzyme called cone-specific phosphodiesterase. This enzyme is found exclusively in light-detecting (photoreceptor) cells called cones, which are located in a specialized tissue at the back of the eye known as the retina. Cones provide vision in bright light (daylight vision), including color vision. Other photoreceptor cells, called rods, provide vision in low light (night vision).
When light enters the eye, it stimulates specialized pigments in photoreceptor cells. This stimulation triggers a series of chemical reactions that produce an electrical signal, which is interpreted by the brain as vision. This process is called phototransduction. Cone-specific phosphodiesterase carries out one of the reactions in this process. Specifically, the enzyme converts a molecule called cGMP to another molecule, 5'-GMP, in cones. This conversion causes certain channels on the cell membrane to close. The closing of these channels triggers the transmission of visual signals to the brain.
Health Conditions Related to Genetic Changes
Achromatopsia
At least one mutation in the PDE6H gene has been found to cause the vision disorder achromatopsia. It is a very rare cause of a form of the disorder called incomplete achromatopsia. This condition is characterized by limited color vision and other vision problems that are present from early infancy.
The identified mutation replaces one protein building block (amino acid) near the beginning of the inhibitory gamma subunit with a signal to stop protein production. This mutation is written as Ser12Ter or S12X. This change prevents the production of any functional inhibitory gamma subunit, which interferes with the normal function of cone-specific phosphodiesterase. Impairment of this enzyme disrupts the process of phototransduction in cones; rods are typically unaffected.
Because cones are needed for color vision, affected individuals have difficulty distinguishing certain colors. Their other vision problems are also related to the malfunctioning cones.
More About This Health ConditionOther Names for This Gene
- ACHM6
- GMP-PDE gamma
- phosphodiesterase 6H, cGMP-specific, cone, gamma
- RCD3
- retinal cone rhodopsin-sensitive cGMP 3',5'-cyclic phosphodiesterase subunit gamma
Additional Information & Resources
Tests Listed in the Genetic Testing Registry
Scientific Articles on PubMed
Catalog of Genes and Diseases from OMIM
References
- Kohl S, Coppieters F, Meire F, Schaich S, Roosing S, Brennenstuhl C, Bolz S, van Genderen MM, Riemslag FC; European Retinal Disease Consortium; Lukowski R, den Hollander AI, Cremers FP, De Baere E, Hoyng CB, Wissinger B. A nonsense mutation in PDE6H causes autosomal-recessive incomplete achromatopsia. Am J Hum Genet. 2012 Sep 7;91(3):527-32. doi: 10.1016/j.ajhg.2012.07.006. Epub 2012 Aug 16. Citation on PubMed or Free article on PubMed Central
- Kohl S, Jagle H, Wissinger B, Zobor D. Achromatopsia. 2004 Jun 24 [updated 2018 Sep 20]. In: Adam MP, Feldman J, Mirzaa GM, Pagon RA, Wallace SE, Amemiya A, editors. GeneReviews(R) [Internet]. Seattle (WA): University of Washington, Seattle; 1993-2025. Available from http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK1418/ Citation on PubMed
- Shimizu-Matsumoto A, Itoh K, Inazawa J, Nishida K, Matsumoto Y, Kinoshita S, Matsubara K, Okubo K. Isolation and chromosomal localization of the human cone cGMP phosphodiesterase gamma cDNA (PDE6H). Genomics. 1996 Feb 15;32(1):121-4. doi: 10.1006/geno.1996.0085. Citation on PubMed
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