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Crystallins and Their Complexes

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Macromolecular Protein Complexes II: Structure and Function

Part of the book series: Subcellular Biochemistry ((SCBI,volume 93))

Abstract

The crystallins (α, β and γ), major constituent proteins of eye lens fiber cells play their critical role in maintaining the transparency and refractive index of the lens. Under different stress factors and with aging, β- and γ-crystallins start to unfold partially leading to their aggregation. Protein aggregation in lens basically enhances light scattering and causes the vision problem, commonly known as cataract. α-crystallin as a molecular chaperone forms complexes with its substrates (β- and γ-crystallins) to prevent such aggregation. In this chapter, the structural features of β- and γ-crystallins have been discussed. Detailed structural information linked with the high stability of γC-, γD- and γS-crystallins have been incorporated. The nature of homologous and heterologous interactions among crystallins has been deciphered, which are involved in their molecular association and complex formation.

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  1. Department of Chemistry, National Institute of Technology Hamirpur, Hamirpur, 177005, Himachal Pradesh, India

    Kalyan Sundar Ghosh & Priyanka Chauhan

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  1. Kalyan Sundar Ghosh
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  2. Priyanka Chauhan
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Correspondence to Kalyan Sundar Ghosh .

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  1. Institute of Zoology, University of Mainz, Mainz, Germany

    J. Robin Harris

  2. School of Natural and Environmental Sciences, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK

    Jon Marles-Wright

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Ghosh, K.S., Chauhan, P. (2019). Crystallins and Their Complexes. In: Harris, J., Marles-Wright, J. (eds) Macromolecular Protein Complexes II: Structure and Function . Subcellular Biochemistry, vol 93. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-28151-9_14

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