title: Trehalose effects on alpha-crystallin aggregates.
abstract: alpha-Crystallin in its native state is a large, heterogeneous, low-molecular weight (LMW) aggregate that under certain conditions may progressively became part of insoluble high-molecular weight (HMW) systems. These systems are supposed to play a relevant role in eye lens opacification and vision impairment. In this paper, we report the effects of trehalose on alpha-crystallin aggregates. The role of trehalose in alpha-crystallin stress tolerance, chaperone activity and thermal stability is studied. The results show that trehalose stabilizes the alpha-crystallin native structure, inhibits alpha-crystallin aggregation, and disaggregates preformed LMW systems not affecting its chaperone activity.
authors.affiliation: Istituto di Biostrutture e Bioimmagini (IBB), CNR, Catania, Italy.
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Attanasio
authors.forename: Claudia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Cascio
authors.forename: Salvatore
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Fisichella
authors.forename: Vincenzo Giuseppe
authors.initials: VG
authors.lastname: Nicoletti
authors.forename: Bruno
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Pignataro
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Savarino
authors.forename: Enrico
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Rizzarelli
mesh_terms: D052160:Benzothiazoles; D002942:Circular Dichroism; D018625:Microscopy, Atomic Force; D020836:Protein Structure, Quaternary; D013050:Spectrometry, Fluorescence; D013844:Thiazoles; D014199:Trehalose / Q000494:pharmacology*; D038201:alpha-Crystallins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D052160:Benzothiazoles; D013844:Thiazoles; D038201:alpha-Crystallins; C009462:thioflavin T; D014199:Trehalose