Vitronectin is one of the proteins that makes up the retina’s wayward molecular deposits. It stockpiles alongside other proteins, cholesterol, fats, and a form of calcium phosphate called hydroxyapatite – the same material that forms healthy teeth and bones.

Francesca M. Marassi, PhD, Medical College of Wisconsin professor and chair of biophysics, is working to understand the atom-by-atom structure of these molecules, including vitronectin. In the music video, mineral clay spheres represent the compounds, which are dropped into a clear, thick oil held within a painted-glass eye. A separate clay sculpture made by Amanda Huff also portrays the molecular deposition.

“I found Dr. Marassi’s research about age-related macular degeneration fascinating. It was really scratching my brain the right way,” says Huff. “The idea that a sense is slowly lost, I thought I could bring that to life through visuals and music.”

Dr. Marassi and her team have already deciphered the atomic makeup of vitronectin, which they described as a “sticky propeller” shape in a 2019 paper. This finding aligned with prior knowledge of the protein, which normally circulates in high quantities throughout our blood stream, where it helps cells stick together in complex shapes.

“We suspect vitronectin is helping other harmful molecules stick together in the eyes of AMD patients,” says Dr. Marassi.

This molecular build-up is mirrored in the music featured in the video. Layered on top of a heavy, rich orchestral piece is a screeching, static-like sound: the spectral footprint – or unique light absorption, reflection, and emission pattern – of vitronectin, which was captured in Dr. Marassi’s lab.

Errant molecular deposits aren’t just unique to AMD. They occur in other conditions like Alzheimer’s Disease. Supported by a five-year, $13 million National Institutes of Health grant, Dr. Marassi and her team hope to find new ways to diagnose, monitor, and treat AMD and Alzheimer’s.

Perhaps their work will produce a treatment that acts like a spring cleaning to clear out the litter – or a way to prevent the accumulation of the debris altogether.

The vitronectin molecule reflected in artist Amanda Huff’s eye was 3D printed by MCW’s Biophysics Department.

Huff painted blood vessels on an antique glass lighting globe for the eye.

The electronic sounds in the piece were from solid state nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), which captures a unique pattern from specific atoms in the vitronectin protein. Assistant Professor of Biophysics Gopinath Tata, PhD, translated the data into an audio signal that acts as the molecule’s sonic fingerprint.