Distribution and pattern of water-soluble proteins of lens as revealed by gel filtration chromatography in fish (Catla catla) of different age groups.

The water soluble proteins of the lens collected from different age group of the fish Catla catla were subjected to Sephadex G 200 gel filtration to fractionate and to characterize the protein and further to determine the elution volume (Ve) of different fractions. The relative proportion of each fraction was also calculated. Total number of fractions F1 to F4 was discernible through gel filtration. The molecular weight of these varied from 35,000 Da to 640,000 Da. Three subfractions were also noted in F1 fraction. Interesting observations were, presence of alpha, betaH betaL crystallins in all age groups and LMW proteins in older age group. a-crystallin present in major amounts in comparison to betaH & betaL crystallins. Decrease of alpha-crystallins (except in age group II) with the increase of age, counter balanced by the increase of betaH crystallins. Increase of betaH crystallins was followed by the decrease of betaL crystallins. Results suggest that proportionate distribution of different classes of proteins determined by column chromatography is widely variable.