title: Dense nuclear cataract caused by the gammaB-crystallin S11R point mutation.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To identify the causative gene mutation for a new dominant cataract in mice and to investigate the molecular basis for how the mutated gene leads to a dense nuclear cataract.
  
  
  METHODS
  Genomewide linkage analysis and DNA sequencing were used to determine the gene mutation. Histology, immunohistochemistry, and Western blotting were used to characterize lens phenotypes. Ion concentrations were measured by an inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectrometer (ICP-OES).
  
  
  RESULTS
  A point mutation (A to C) of the gammaB-crystallin gene, which results in the gammaB-S11R mutant protein, was identified in this cataractous mouse line. Homozygous mutant mice developed dense nuclear cataracts associated with disrupted inner lens fiber cells. Immunohistochemistry data revealed gamma-crystallin aggregates at the cell boundaries of inner mature fibers that lose actin filaments. Western blotting showed an increased degradation of crystallin proteins correlated with the nuclear cataract. ICP-OES confirmed a substantial elevation of calcium concentration in mutant lenses.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This dominant cataract was caused by the gammaB-S11R mutation. Mutant gammaB-S11R proteins triggered the gamma-crystallin aggregation that probably disrupted membrane-cytoskeleton structures of inner fiber cells, causing increased calcium influxes. Subsequent activation of calcium-dependent protein degradation and degeneration of inner mature fiber cells led to the dense nuclear cataract.
authors.affiliation: Vision Science Program and School of Optometry, University of California-Berkeley, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA.
authors.forename: Lin
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Bo
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.forename: Catherine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Cheng
authors.forename: Da
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.forename: Norman L
authors.initials: NL
authors.lastname: Hawes
authors.forename: Chun-hong
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Xia
authors.forename: Xiaohua
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Gong
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D015153:Blotting, Western; D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism; D002386:Cataract / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D002874:Chromosome Mapping; D003459:Crystallins / Q000378:metabolism; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005799:Genes, Dominant; D007907:Lens Nucleus, Crystalline / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D008817:Mice, Mutant Strains; D018613:Microscopy, Confocal; D010641:Phenotype; D017354:Point Mutation; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA; D013052:Spectrometry, X-Ray Emission; D038222:gamma-Crystallins / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: D003459:Crystallins; C107738:crystallin, gammaB; D038222:gamma-Crystallins; D002118:Calcium