Thermal denaturation of alpha-crystallin.

Low molecular weight alpha-crystallin, isolated from cow lenses, exhibit irreversible thermal denaturation in solution at 75 degrees C. The heat of denaturation was obtained from a differential scanning calorimetric endothermic peak. A second run on the denatured alpha-crystallin solution showed that the denaturation is irreversible. Viscosimetric study and ultraviolet absorption spectroscopy also indicated irreversible denaturation.