Phosphoproteome analysis of hereditary cataractous rat lens alpha-crystallin.

We reported previously that C-terminal truncated alpha-crystallins were found in lenses of hereditary cataractous rat ICR/f. In this study, we examined the phosphorylation of the crystalline lens proteins, alphaB-crystallin and alphaA-crystallin, in cataractous and normal rats of different ages and have found an increase in the phosphorylation of serine residues of truncated alpha-crystallin in cataractous lens. Phosphorylation and C-terminal truncation of alpha-crystallins could, both, reduce their chaperone-like activity and lead to cataract formation.