title: Heterogeneity of delta-crystallins of the embryonic mallard lens. Correlation between subunit compositions and isoelectric points.
abstract: delta-Crystallins from the lenses of embryonic mallards (Anas platyrhynchos) were analyzed with respect to native and subunit molecular weight, subunit composition, and isoelectric point. NaDodSO4-urea-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis showed that unfractionated mallard delta-crystallins are composed of approximately equal amounts of subunits with molecular weights near 47 000 and 48 000. Agarose gel chromatography showed that the embryonic mallard delta-crystallins have native molecular weights slightly less than 200 000. Thus, embryonic mallard delta-crystallins appear to be tetramers. Five major and nine minor delta-crystallins were resolved by isoelectric focusing. The five predominant delta-crystallins each cross-reacted with antichick delta-crystallin antiserum, and each had a different proportion of the larger and smaller subunits, indicating a direct relationship between the isoelectric point and the subunit composition. The presence of numerous, minor species of native delta-crystallins with different isoelectric points suggested that the subunits possess charge heteogeneity as well as size heterogeneity.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003459:Crystallins / Q000302:isolation & purification; D004372:Ducks; D004625:Embryo, Nonmammalian; D005260:Female; D005779:Immunodiffusion; D007525:Isoelectric Focusing; D007908:Lens, Crystalline / Q000032:analysis; D046911:Macromolecular Substances; D008970:Molecular Weight
chemical_list: D003459:Crystallins; D046911:Macromolecular Substances