Differential synthesis of crystallins in the developing rat eye lens.
The patterns of protein synthesis in rat lenses ranging in age from newborn to 4 months were compared. After incubation of lenses in [35S]methionine-containing medium it was possible to identify the de novo synthesized crystallins by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis and fluorography, in combination with peptide mapping and immunoblotting. It was found that the relative synthesis of alpha A and beta A3 stays fairly constant in rat lenses of all investigated ages. The relative synthesis of beta B2 and gamma s shows a pronounced increase with age in these post-natal lenses. A differential decrease can be observed in the relative synthesis of the other six gamma-crystallins (gamma A-gamma F). There appears to be a good correlation between the changes in relative synthesis of the various crystallins and previously reported alterations in mRNA levels, although certain mRNAs exhibit marked differences in translational efficiency.
Voorter
C E
CE
Department of Biochemistry, University of Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
De Haard-Hoekman
W A
WA
Hermans
M M
MM
Bloemendal
H
H
De Jong
W W
WW
D000375:Aging / Q000378:metabolism; D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D003459:Crystallins / Q000032:analysis / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D015180:Electrophoresis, Gel, Two-Dimensional; D007908:Lens, Crystalline / Q000254:growth & development*; D008715:Methionine / Q000378:metabolism; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010449:Peptide Mapping; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D013462:Sulfur Radioisotopes
D003459:Crystallins; D013462:Sulfur Radioisotopes; D008715:Methionine