Characteristics of ethylnitrosourea-induced cataracts.
OBJECTIVE
This study analyzed genes associated with the morphology and regulation of ethylnitrosourea (ENU)-induced cataract mouse.


METHODS
Immunohistochemistry analysis using anti-crystallins and PCNA antibody revealed that the localization pattern of these specific markers differed between the cataractous and wild-type lens epithelium. Two-dimensional electrophoresis and microarray techniques were used to identify the proteins and genes related to ENU-induced cataract.


RESULTS
A novel ENU-induced mutation in the mouse led to nuclear and cortical opacity of the eye lens at 5 weeks postnatal. This cataract phenotype was similar to that of the zonular-pulverulent type of human cataract. Crystallin proteins and gap-junction genes have relations to the formation of cataract.


CONCLUSIONS
Together, the results suggest that various proteins affect the formation and specific phenotypes of ENU-induced cataract mouse.
Lee
Min-Jung
MJ
Department of Oral Biology, Research Center for Orofacial Hard Tissue Regeneration, Brain Korea 21 Project, Oral Science Research Center, College of Dentistry, Yonsei Center of Biotechnology, Yonsei University, Seoul, Korea.
Kim
Jae-Young
JY
Kim
Yeun-Jung
YJ
Cho
Jae-Woo
JW
Cho
Kyu-Hyuk
KH
Song
Chang-Woo
CW
Jung
Han-Sung
HS
D000818:Animals; D002386:Cataract / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D017630:Connexins / Q000235:genetics; D003459:Crystallins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D004252:DNA Mutational Analysis; D015180:Electrophoresis, Gel, Two-Dimensional; D005038:Ethylnitrosourea; D005136:Eye Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D010641:Phenotype; D018809:Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigen / Q000378:metabolism; D040081:Protein Array Analysis; D014018:Tissue Distribution
D017630:Connexins; D003459:Crystallins; D005136:Eye Proteins; D018809:Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigen; D005038:Ethylnitrosourea