In vitro evidence for UV-protection of the eye by the corneal epithelium mediated by the cytoplasmic protein, RNA, and ascorbate.

PURPOSE

(1) To evaluate the effect of ribonucleic acid (RNA) and ascorbate on UV-absorption and their impact on ultraviolet-induced (UV) fluorescence from various proteins, and (2) to compare RNA and DNA reduction of protein fluorescence. These informations will be useful for later work on the UV-filtering effect of the corneal epithelium.

METHOD

Spectrophotometry and spectrofluorimetry.

RESULTS

(1) RNA and ascorbate caused a significant UV-absorption and reduced the fluorescence from various water-soluble proteins, the degree of reduction varying independently from one protein to the other. (2) RNA and DNA showed protein fluorescence reduction of roughly the same order.

CONCLUSION

The results are discussed both in the context of UV-protection of the cell nucleus in general, and the possible UV-filtering effect for the eye of bovine corneal epithelium.