Age-related changes in the molecular properties of vitreous collagen.
To understand the molecular events underlying rheological vitreous changes, age-related changes in the molecular properties of bovine and human vitreous collagen were monitored by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The adult bovine vitreous showed an increase in the high molecular-weight components of the collagen compared with the young samples. In addition, the apparent molecular size of the alpha-chain of the adult type II collagen was slightly larger than that of the young samples. The same tendency also was observed in human vitreous. The increase of high-molecular-weight components of the vitreous collagen could be attributed to intermolecular cross-links of the peptide chains.
Akiba
J
J
Schepens Eye Research Institute, Department of Ophthalmology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA.
Ueno
N
N
Chakrabarti
B
B
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology*; D000818:Animals; D002417:Cattle; D003094:Collagen / Q000378:metabolism*; D004591:Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D008970:Molecular Weight; D014822:Vitreous Body / Q000378:metabolism*
D003094:Collagen