Phase separation of α-crystallin-GFP protein and its implication in cataract disease.

ABSTRACT: Cataract, the leading cause of blindness worldwide, is caused by crystallin protein aggregation within the protected lens environment. Phase separation has been implicated as an important mechanism of protein aggregation diseases, such as neurodegeneration. Similarly, cataract has been proposed to be a protein condensation disease in the last century. However, whether crystallin proteins aggregate via a phase separation mechanism and which crystallin protein initiates the aggregation remain unclear. Here, we showed that all types of crystallin-GFP proteins remain soluble under physiological conditions, including protein concentrations, ion strength, and crowding environments. However, in age or disease-induced aberrant conditions, α-crystallin-GFP, including αA- and αB-crystallin-GFP, but

SUBMITTER: Shi J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10039050 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature