title: Phytochelatins inhibit the metal-induced aggregation of alpha-crystallin.
abstract: Phytochelatins (PCs) are heavy-metal-binding peptides found in some eukaryotes. This study investigates the use of plant-derived PCs for the inhibition of metal-induced protein aggregation. The results of this study show that PCs inhibit zinc-induced alpha-crystallin aggregation, and suggest that PCs might be useful as anti-cataract agents.
authors.affiliation: Department of Environmental Biotechnology, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Osaka University, 1-6 Yamadaoka, Suita, Osaka 565-0871, Japan. hori@phs.osaka-u.ac.jp
authors.forename: Yasuhisa
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Hori
authors.forename: Tomoaki
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Yoshikawa
authors.forename: Naoki
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Tsuji
authors.forename: Takeshi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Bamba
authors.forename: Yoshikazu
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Aso
authors.forename: Motonori
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kudou
authors.forename: Yoshiki
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Uchida
authors.forename: Masahiro
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Takagi
authors.forename: Kazuo
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Harada
authors.forename: Kazumasa
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hirata
mesh_terms: D008670:Metals / Q000378:metabolism*; D054811:Phytochelatins / Q000494:pharmacology*; D038201:alpha-Crystallins / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D008670:Metals; D038201:alpha-Crystallins; D054811:Phytochelatins