The βγ-crystallins: native state stability and pathways to aggregation.

ABSTRACT: The βγ-crystallins are among the most stable and long-lived proteins in the human body. With increasing age, however, they transform to high molecular weight light-scattering aggregates, resulting in cataracts. This occurs despite the presence in the lens of high concentrations of the a-crystallin chaperones. Aggregation of crystallins can be induced in vitro by a variety of stresses, including acidic pH, ultraviolet light, oxidative damage, heating or freezing, and specific amino acid substitutions. Accumulating evidence points to the existence of specific biochemical pathways of protein: protein interaction and polymerization. We review the methods used for studying crystallin stability and aggregation and discuss the sometimes counterintuitive relationships between factors that favor na

SUBMITTER: Serebryany E 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4438767 | biostudies-literature | 2014 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature