These investigators demonstrated that an activated autophagic function by a missense mutation in Rho gene and an mTOR inhibitor exacerbated retinal degeneration, whereas reduced autophagic activity by retinal specific deletion of Atg5 and the autophagy inhibitor hydroxychloroquine protected photoreceptors from Rho mutation-induced degeneration. This evidence concerns the gene RHO and retinal degeneration.