Abstract
The human lens is a clear tissue that focuses light on the retina. There is little protein turnover and proteins in the center of the lens (the nucleus) are as old as the individual. Alterations to the amino acids in these lens proteins, known as crystallins, are called posttranslational modifications (PTMs), and they accumulate with age. Mass spectrometry is used to identify which amino acids are modified and to elucidate their role in age-related lens changes such as presbyopia and age-related nuclear cataract. A review of known lens PTMs and the functional significance of the various modifications is discussed.
Original language | English (US) |
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Title of host publication | Encyclopedia of the Eye |
Publisher | Elsevier |
Pages | 161-166 |
Number of pages | 6 |
ISBN (Electronic) | 9780123742032 |
ISBN (Print) | 9780123741981 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Jan 1 2010 |
Keywords
- Age-related modifications
- Crystallins
- Deamidation
- Disulfide-bond formation
- Lens
- Mass spectrometry
- Methylation
- Oxidation
- Post-translational modification
- Proteolysis
- Proteomics
- Truncation
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- General Medicine