Effect of diabetic duration on the secondary structures of the human lens capsules in diabetic cataracts.

The decrease in triple helix content from 16% to 9% and in beta-turn content from 45% to 33%, combined with markedly increased random coil structure (16%) can be found in the secondary structure contents of lens capsule of the premature cataractous patients with longer diabetic history. However, almost the same peak position and secondary structure content are observed in the curve-fitted IR amide I band of lens capsules of both non-diabetic controls and premature cataractous patients with shorter diabetic history, even if the cataracts are senile. The present study emphasizes the duration of diabetes as a major cause to alter the secondary conformation of the cataractous human lens capsules in diabetic patients.