Trehalose effects on alpha-crystallin aggregates.
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.
Attanasio
Francesco
F
Istituto di Biostrutture e Bioimmagini (IBB), CNR, Catania, Italy.
Cascio
Claudia
C
Fisichella
Salvatore
S
Nicoletti
Vincenzo Giuseppe
VG
Pignataro
Bruno
B
Savarino
Anna
A
Rizzarelli
Enrico
E
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
D052160:Benzothiazoles; D013844:Thiazoles; D038201:alpha-Crystallins; C009462:thioflavin T; D014199:Trehalose