University of Wollongong
Browse

The etiology of human age-related cataract. Proteins don't last forever

journal contribution
posted on 2024-11-16, 07:16 authored by Roger TruscottRoger Truscott, Michael FriedrichMichael Friedrich
Background: It is probable that the great majority of human cataract results from the spontaneous decomposition of long-lived macromolecules in the human lens. Breakdown/reaction of long-lived proteins is of primary importance and recent proteomic analysis has enabled the identification of the particular crystallins, and their exact sites of amino acid modification. Scope of review: Analysis of proteins from cataractous lenses revealed that there are sites on some structural proteins that show a consistently greater degree of deterioration than age-matched normal lenses. Major conclusions: The most abundant posttranslational modification of aged lens proteins is racemization. Deamidation, truncation and crosslinking, each arising from the spontaneous breakdown of susceptible amino acids within proteins, are also present. Fundamental to an understanding of nuclear cataract etiology, it is proposed that once a certain degree of modification at key sites occurs, that protein-protein interactions are disrupted and lens opacification ensues. General Significance: Since long-lived proteins are now recognized to be present in many other sites of the body, such as the brain, the information gleaned from detailed analyses of degraded proteins from aged lenses will apply more widely to other age-related human diseases. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled Crystallin Biochemistry in Health and Disease.

Funding

Ancient proteins and disease.

National Health and Medical Research Council

Find out more...

History

Citation

Truscott, R. J. W. & Friedrich, M. G. (2016). The etiology of human age-related cataract. Proteins don't last forever. Biochimica et Biophysica Acta - General Subjects, 1860 192-198.

Journal title

Biochimica et Biophysica Acta - General Subjects

Volume

1860

Issue

1

Pagination

192-198

Language

English

RIS ID

104204

Usage metrics

    Categories

    Exports

    RefWorks
    BibTeX
    Ref. manager
    Endnote
    DataCite
    NLM
    DC