title: Decreased expression of ribosomal proteins in human age-related cataract.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To identify lens epithelial genes with altered expression levels in age-related human cataract.
  
  
  METHODS
  Epithelia from age-related cataracts and from normal lenses were microdissected and RNA was extracted. RNAs were compared for gene expression differences by RT-PCR differential display. Transcripts exhibiting altered levels of gene expression were cloned and identified by sequencing. The expression levels of identified clones were confirmed by semiquantitative RT-PCR with three separately isolated RNA preparations. Specific primers were designed and used to examine the mRNA levels of other genes important in protein synthesis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Numerous transcripts exhibited altered levels of gene expression. One transcript exhibiting a decreased level of expression in cataract compared with normal lenses was identified as encoding ribosomal protein L21. Three additional ribosomal proteins, L15, L13a, and L7a, also exhibited decreased expression in cataract compared with normal human lenses. By contrast, the levels of elongation factor (EF)-1alpha1 and eucaryotic initiation factor (eIF)-4E remained unchanged.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results provide evidence that human age-related cataract is associated with decreased expression of L21 and other ribosomal proteins. The results suggest that modulation of protein synthesis and/or other functions mediated by ribosomal proteins is associated with age-related cataract.
authors.affiliation: The Department of Biology, West Virginia University, Morgantown, West Virginia 26506-6057, USA.
authors.forename: WeiYan
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hawse
authors.forename: QingLing
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Nancy
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Sheets
authors.forename: Kevin M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Miller
authors.forename: Joseph
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Horwitz
authors.forename: Marc
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kantorow
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000375:Aging / Q000378:metabolism*; D001483:Base Sequence; D002386:Cataract / Q000378:metabolism*; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D005784:Gene Amplification; D015870:Gene Expression; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling; D006801:Humans; D007908:Lens, Crystalline / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D012313:RNA / Q000302:isolation & purification; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012269:Ribosomal Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D012333:RNA, Messenger; D012269:Ribosomal Proteins; C060232:ribosomal protein L21; D012313:RNA