Lens proteins in intumescent cataract.

Intumescent cataractous lenses were investigated as to their water content and protein composition. Nuclei were separated from cortices. Water-soluble, water-insoluble, urea-soluble and urea-insoluble portions were quantified and the subunit composition of the water-soluble crystallin fraction was looked at on SDS-gel electrophoresis. Compared to normal lenses it is observed that the water content in intumescent cataract is increased, water-soluble and urea-soluble fractions are diminished, whereas the urea-insoluble portions are augmented. No major changes are noted in the subunit composition of the soluble protein fractions. Particularly, the relative amount of gamma-crystallins is diminished in intumescent cataractous lenses.