Targeted knockdown of Cerkl, a retinal dystrophy gene, causes mild affectation of the retinal ganglion cell layer

► Cerkl-/- knockout mice were generated by cre-mediated excision of the first exon and proximal promoter region. ► Previously unreported alternative promoters directed basal expression of Cerkl (35%). ► No gross morphological alteration was evident in the Cerkl-/- retinas. ► Retinal stress and functional alteration was supported by an increase of apoptosis and GFAP, and a decrease of Brn3a. ► ERG recordings showed consistent perturbation of the oscillatory potentials, supporting ganglion cell alteration.