title: Alpha-crystallin.
abstract: Alpha A and alpha B-crystallins are a major protein component of the mammalian eye lens. Being a member of the small heat-shock protein family they possess chaperone-like function. The alpha-crystallins and especially alpha B is also found outside the lens having an extensive tissue distribution. Alpha B-crystallin is found to be over-expressed in many neurological diseases, and mutations in alpha A or B-crystallin can cause cataract and myopathy. This review deals with some of the unique properties of the alpha-crystallins emphasizing especially what we don't know about its function and structure.
authors.affiliation: Jules Stein Eye Institute, UCLA School of Medicine, 100 Stein Plaza RM B168, Los Angeles, CA 90095-7008, USA. horwitz@jsei.ucla.edu
authors.forename: Joseph
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Horwitz
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002386:Cataract / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D051379:Mice; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D009154:Mutation; D010766:Phosphorylation; D020836:Protein Structure, Quaternary; D038201:alpha-Crystallins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D038201:alpha-Crystallins