Protein-bound kynurenine decreases with the progression of age-related nuclear cataract.
OBJECTIVE
Posttranslational modification by UV filters is a key event in human lenses that appears to be largely responsible for normal age-dependent yellowing. It has been proposed that subsequent reactions of these covalently bound UV filters may also be involved in the genesis of age-related nuclear cataract. To examine this hypothesis, the levels of kynurenine-lysine and kynurenine-histidine were measured in both normal and cataractous human lenses.


METHODS
Proteins isolated from the nuclei of normal lenses and lenses with and types I to IV nuclear cataract were hydrolyzed in 6 M HCl, and the levels of kynurenine-lysine and kynurenine-histidine were determined by HPLC.


RESULTS
The content of kynurenine-lysine and kynurenine-histidine decreased substantially with the progression of age-related nuclear cataract. On average, levels of both kynurenine adducts were four times lower in advanced cataract (type IV) than in normal lenses. Simple autoxidation of the derivatives did not appear to be responsible for this decrease, because incubation in the presence of oxygen or H(2)O(2) did not affect adduct stability.


CONCLUSIONS
Although protein-bound kynurenine accumulates over time in normal lenses, the levels attached to the proteins decrease significantly with the progression of age-related nuclear cataract. This finding suggests that in cataract there is a breakdown of the protein-bound adducts. Such further reactions of bound UV filters may contribute to the etiology of age-related nuclear cataract.
Australian Cataract Research Foundation, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, New South Wales, Australia.
Santiago
S
Vazquez
Nicole R
NR
Parker
Margaret
M
Sheil
Roger J W
RJ
Truscott
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000375:Aging / Q000378:metabolism*; D002386:Cataract / Q000378:metabolism*; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D003459:Crystallins / Q000378:metabolism*; D018450:Disease Progression; D006801:Humans; D006868:Hydrolysis; D007737:Kynurenine / Q000378:metabolism*; D007907:Lens Nucleus, Crystalline / Q000378:metabolism*; D011485:Protein Binding
D003459:Crystallins; D007737:Kynurenine