Alterations in lenticular proteins during ageing and selenite-induced cataractogenesis in Wistar rats By:Sakthivel, M (Sakthivel, Muniyan)[ 1 ] ; Elanchezhian, R (Elanchezhian, Rajan)[ 1 ] ; Thomas, PA (Thomas, Philip A.); Geraldine, P (Geraldine, Pitchairaj)[ 1 ] MOLECULAR VISION Volume: 16 Issue: 49-50 Pages: 445-453 Published: MAR 16 2010 View Journal Information Abstract Purpose: To determine putative alterations in the major lenticular proteins in Wistar rats of different ages and to compare these alterations with those occurring in rats with selenite-induced cataract. Methods: Lenticular transparency was determined by morphological examination using slit-lamp biomicroscopy. Alterations in lenticular protein were determined by sodium dodecyl sulfate-PAGE (SDS-PAGE) and confirmed immunologically by western blot. Results: Morphological examination did not reveal observable opacities in the lenses of the rats of different age groups; however, dense nuclear opacities were noted in lenses of rats in the selenite-cataract group. Western blot assays revealed age-related changes in soluble and urea-soluble lenticular proteins. Decreased alpha A- and beta B1crystallins in the soluble fraction and aggregation of alpha A-crystallin, in addition to the degraded fragment of beta B1crystallin, in the urea-soluble fraction appeared to occur in relation to increasing age of the rats from which the lenses were taken; similarly, cytoskeletal proteins appeared to decline with increasing age. The lenses from rats in the selenitecataract group exhibited similar changes, except that there was also high molecular weight aggregation of alpha Acrystallin. Conclusions: The results of this study suggest that there is loss, as well as aggregation, of alpha A-crystallin in the aging rat lens, although there is no accompanying loss of lenticular transparency. Keywords KeyWords Plus:HUMAN SENILE CATARACT; AGE-RELATED-CHANGES; HUMAN LENS; ALPHACRYSTALLIN; CYTOSKELETAL PROTEINS; MASS-SPECTROMETRY; MOLECULAR CHAPERONE; HEREDITARY CATARACT; OXIDATIVE STRESS; BETA B1 Author Information Reprint Address: Geraldine, P (reprint author) Bharathidasan Univ, Sch Life Sci, Dept Anim Sci, Tiruchchirappalli 620024, Tamil Nadu, India. Addresses: [ 1 ] Bharathidasan Univ, Sch Life Sci, Dept Anim Sci, Tiruchchirappalli 620024, Tamil Nadu, India E-mail Addresses:gerryarchup@yahoo.co.in Publisher MOLECULAR VISION, C/O JEFF BOATRIGHT, LAB B, 5500 EMORY EYE CENTER, 1327 CLIFTON RD, N E, ATLANTA, GA 30322 USA Categories / Classification Research Areas:Biochemistry & Molecular Biology; Ophthalmology Web of Science Categories:Biochemistry & Molecular Biology; Ophthalmology Document Information Document Type:Article Language:English Accession Number: WOS:000279075100002 PubMed ID: 20300567 ISSN: 1090-0535 Other Information IDS Number: 614QP Cited References in Web of Science Core Collection: 47 Times Cited in Web of Science Core Collection: 6