Fascin 2 is a retinal-specific member of the fascin family of actin cross-linkers that bundle actin filaments. Fascin 2 mutation in humans results autosomal dominant retinitis pigmentosa and macular dystrophy (Wada et al. (2001) IOVS 42:2395-2400, Wada et al. (2003) Ophth. Mol. Gen. 121:1613-1620), suggesting an important role for fascin 2 in photoreceptor survival.

 Currently we are focused on analyzing the subcellular location of fascin 2 in photoreceptors using immunohistochemistry and GFP-tagged fascin 2 in transgenic Xenopus tadpole rods.