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  • Title: Mechanism of cataract formation in alphaA-crystallin Y118D mutation.
    Author: Huang Q, Ding L, Phan KB, Cheng C, Xia CH, Gong X, Horwitz J.
    Journal: Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci; 2009 Jun; 50(6):2919-26. PubMed ID: 19151380.
    Abstract:
    PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to elucidate the molecular mechanisms that lead to a dominant nuclear cataract in a mouse harboring the Y118D mutation in the alphaA-crystallin gene. METHODS: The physicochemical properties of alpha-crystallin obtained from mouse lenses with the Y118D mutation as well as a recombinant Y118D alphaA-crystallin were studied using gel filtration, two-dimensional (2D) gel electrophoresis, multi-angle light scattering, circular dichroism, fluorescence, and chaperone activities. RESULTS: Both native alpha-crystallin from mutant lens and recombinant alphaA-Y118D displayed higher molecular mass distribution than the wild-type. Circular dichroism spectra indicated changes in the secondary structures of alphaA-Y118D. The alphaA-Y118D protein prevented nonspecific protein aggregation more effectively than wild-type alphaA-crystallin. The gel filtration and 2D gel electrophoresis analysis showed a significant reduction of Y118D mutant protein in comparison with wild-type alphaA protein of heterozygous mutant lenses. Quantitative RT-PCR results confirmed a decrease in alphaA and alphaB transcripts in the homozygous mutant alpha A(Y118D/Y118D) lenses. CONCLUSIONS: The alphaA-Y118D mutant protein itself displays an increased chaperone-like activity. However, the dominant nuclear cataract is associated with a significant decrease in the amount of alphaA-crystallin, leading to a reduction in total chaperone capacity needed for maintaining lens transparency.
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