title: A retinal proteomics-based study identifies αA-crystallin as a sex steroid-regulated protein.
abstract: Sex steroids influence the structural and functional organization of ocular tissues, promote survival in several pathological conditions including retinal neurodegeneration and have a prominent role in age-related eye diseases as well as neurodegenerative diseases. However, their underlying mechanisms are still elusive. We explored proteomic profiling of rat retinas following intravitreal injection of the bioactive 17β-estradiol or androgen dihydrotestosterone. Using narrow range 2-DE gels and MALDI-TOF-MS analysis, we identified three sex steroid-regulated proteins: the galectin-related-inter-fiber (GRIFIN) which is a galectin family member protein of unknown function, the fatty acid-binding protein epidermal-5 (FABP5) protein responsible for the fatty acid uptake and transport and the small heat shock αA-crystallin (CRYAA) protein involved in preventing aggregation of denatured or unfolded proteins. Changes in the expression of these proteins revealed a predominant estrogenic effect and the multiple CRYAA protein species reflected posttranslational modifications. Sex steroid-mediated modifications of CRYAA were confirmed by Western blotting analysis. This study provides new target proteins for sex steroids with a potential link to age-related diseases associated with proteotoxic stress.
authors.affiliation: CNR Institute of Biomedicine and Molecular Immunology, Palermo, Italy.
authors.forename: Claudia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: D'Anna
authors.forename: Caterina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Cascio
authors.forename: Diego
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Cigna
authors.forename: Giacoma
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Galizzi
authors.forename: Irene
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Deidda
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Bianchi
authors.forename: Domenica
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Russo
authors.forename: Rosa
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Passantino
authors.forename: Luca
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Bini
authors.forename: Patrizia
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Guarneri
mesh_terms: D017398:Alternative Splicing / Q000187:drug effects; D019943:Amino Acid Substitution; D000818:Animals; D015153:Blotting, Western; D013196:Dihydrotestosterone / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004958:Estradiol / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005136:Eye Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D050556:Fatty Acid-Binding Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D037161:Galectins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D015870:Gene Expression; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling; D058449:Intravitreal Injections; D008297:Male; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D011499:Protein Processing, Post-Translational / Q000187:drug effects; D040901:Proteomics; D051381:Rats; D012160:Retina / Q000502:physiology; D012164:Retinal Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control; D019032:Spectrometry, Mass, Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption-Ionization; D038202:alpha-Crystallin A Chain / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D005136:Eye Proteins; C107356:Fabp5 protein, rat; D050556:Fatty Acid-Binding Proteins; C115484:GRIFIN protein, rat; D037161:Galectins; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D038202:alpha-Crystallin A Chain; D013196:Dihydrotestosterone; D004958:Estradiol