[Decreased chaperone activity of alpha-crystallin by carbamylation in vitro].

PURPOSE

To investigate the effort of carbamylation, an important post-translational modification of lens proteins, on chaperone activity of alpha-crystallin.

METHODS

The alphaL-crystallin and betaL-crystallin were isolated from bovine lens. Carbamylation was performed by different concentrations of potassium [14C] cyanate to alphaL-crystallin at 37 degrees C for 7 days. The binding of cyanate to alphaL-crystallin was determined by measuring the radioactivity incorporated into trichloroacetic acid precipitable protein from potassium [14C] cyanate. In addition, alphaL-crystallin was incubated with unlabelled potassium cyanate (50 and 100 mmol.L(-1)) for 3 and 7 days at 37 degrees C and then its chaperone activity against heat-induced betaL-crystallin aggregation was assayed. Analysis of the carbamylated alphaL-crystallin was further performed by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC).

RESULTS

The rate of binding (cyanate bound /mol of alphaL-crystallin) and the decreased chaperone activity of alphaL-crystallin induced by carbamylation in vitro were dose-dependent and time-dependent. The decreased chaperone activity corresponded with the higher binding of cyanate. After 7 days incubation with 100 mmol.L(-1), almost all chaperone activity was lost compared with a simultaneously incubation control sample. HPLC analysis revealed that aggregation of alphaL-crystallin by potassium cyanate has occurred after 3 days incubation in dose-dependent fashion.

CONCLUSION

The alpha-crystallin can be modified in vitro by carbamylation through a high-molecular-weight aggregates formation. The loss of its chaperone activity may result from carbamylation-induced aggregation.