Studies on the fate of aldolase molecules in the aging rat lens.

It was found that aldolase activity declined considerably in the lens of adult animals with increasing age. Immunoassay showed that defective aldolase C molecules were accumulated. In addition, antibody prepared against denatured enzyme preferentially removes inactive molecules from lens homogenates without affecting active molecules. It is concluded that defective aldolase molecules encountered in aging lenses are at least partially denatured and are inactive.