title: UV-B-induced secondary conformational changes in lens alpha-crystallin.
abstract: The changes in turbidity and protein secondary structure of alpha-crystallin after a 72 h UV-B (302 nm) irradiation in aqueous solution have been determined by UV spectrophotometry and Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) microspectroscopy with reflection mode. The relative transmission of alpha-crystallin aqueous solution gradually decreases with the exposure time, indicating that the transparent alpha-crystallin aqueous solution becomes opaque with prolonged UV-B irradiation. The turbidity induced by UV-B shows first-order kinetics due to the photo-induced aggregation. The modification of the secondary structure of the alpha-crystallin molecule in aqueous solution caused by this aggregation might enhance the alpha-helix and beta-turn structures from 8.14 to 14.92% and from 24.46 to 35.54%, respectively; reduce the beta-sheet structure from 60.20% to 43.77%; and leave the random coil structure almost unaltered. The secondary conformation of alpha-crystallin changes gradually but evidently with its increase of turbidity during UV-B exposure.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Research and Education, Veterans General Hospital-Taipei, Taiwan. sylin@vghtpe.gov.tw
authors.forename: S Y
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: C J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Ho
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Li
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002417:Cattle; D003459:Crystallins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000528:radiation effects*; D007700:Kinetics; D007908:Lens, Crystalline; D009391:Nephelometry and Turbidimetry; D017433:Protein Structure, Secondary / Q000528:radiation effects*; D017550:Spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared; D014466:Ultraviolet Rays
chemical_list: D003459:Crystallins