Effect of aging on the chaperone-like function of human alpha-crystallin assessed by three methods.
alpha-Crystallin can function as a molecular chaperone by preventing unwanted interactions. This paper presents the effects of aging and cataract on the chaperone-like properties of alpha-crystallin from soluble fractions from the cortex and nucleus of human lenses by using three assays: enzyme inactivation and two turbidity experiments. The three methods complemented each other. There was no decrease with age of chaperone-like function of cortical alpha-low and alpha-high crystallin. Nuclear alpha-low crystallin showed a decrease, whereas alpha-high crystallin showed no age-related change but its protective effect was diminished. Results from the nucleus of 40-year-old cataractous lenses seemed similar to those for clear lenses of equivalent age, whereas 80-year-old cataractous lenses showed decreased chaperone-like behaviour.
Derham
B K
BK
Nuffield Laboratory of Ophthalmology, University of Oxford, Walton Street, Oxford OX2 6AW, U.K.
Harding
J J
JJ
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology*; D002386:Cataract / Q000378:metabolism*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003459:Crystallins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000494:pharmacology; D004591:Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel; D005632:Fructose / Q000494:pharmacology; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007908:Lens, Crystalline / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism; D008291:Malate Dehydrogenase / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000737:chemistry; D018832:Molecular Chaperones / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*
D003459:Crystallins; D018832:Molecular Chaperones; D005632:Fructose; D008291:Malate Dehydrogenase