Primary structure of zeta-crystallin protein from guinea pig. Its similarity to the enzyme alcohol dehydrogenase.

The primary structure of zeta-crystallin, a guinea pig lens specific protein, was obtained by cloning the copy of its mRNA from a 0-1 week old cDNA lens library. The protein is 328 amino acids long and 34% of its secondary structure appears in alpha-helical conformation. Comparison of the zeta-crystallin sequence with the sequences of the protein data base bank, revealed the similarity of this lens protein to the enzymes of the long-chain zinc-containing alcohol dehydrogenase family.