title: Fluorophors and chromophors from rat lens crystallins in UV with hydroxykynurenine.
abstract: Isolated alpha-, beta-, and gamma-crystallins from young rat lenses were incubated in solution for 16 hr with 3-hydroxykynurenine under ultraviolet (366 nm) light. Controls included: incubation without light, without kynurenine, and with 2-mercaptoethanol. These procedures generated several chromophors (with absorption maxima or shoulders at 340, 370, and 470 nm) and fluorophors (with excitation/emission at 407/515, 458/550, 515/555, 647/664, and 647/740 nm). The formation of these pigments was inhibited by 2-mercaptoethanol. The findings are discussed in relation to the chromophors and fluorophors found in aged and brunescent human lenses.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003459:Crystallins / Q000378:metabolism*; D003624:Darkness; D007737:Kynurenine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000494:pharmacology; D007908:Lens, Crystalline / Q000187:drug effects*; D008623:Mercaptoethanol / Q000494:pharmacology; D013050:Spectrometry, Fluorescence; D014466:Ultraviolet Rays
chemical_list: D003459:Crystallins; C005045:3-hydroxykynurenine; D007737:Kynurenine; D008623:Mercaptoethanol