Structural and Biochemical Characterization of the Childhood Cataract-Associated R76S Mutant of Human γD-Crystallin

摘要

Although a number of yD-crystallin mutations are associated with cataract formation, there is not a clear understanding of the molecular mechanism(s) that lead to this protein deposition disease. As part of our ongoing studies on crystallins, we investigated the recently discovered Arg76 to Ser (R76S) mutation that is correlated with childhood cataract in an Indian family. We expressed the R76S yD-crystallin protein in E. coli, characterized it by CD, fluorescence, and NMR spectroscopy, and determined its stability with respect to thermal and chemical denaturation. Surprisingly, no significant biochemical or biophysical differences were observed between the wild-type protein and the R76S variant, except a lowered pI (6.8 compared to the wild-type value of 7.4). NMR assessment of the R76S yD-crystallin solution structure, by RDCs, and of its motional properties, by relaxation measurements, also revealed a close resemblance to wild-type crystallin. Further, kinetic unfolding/refolding experiments for R76S and wild-type protein showed similar degrees of off-pathway aggregation suppression by aB-crystallin. Overall, our results suggest that neither structural nor stability changes in the protein are responsible for the R76S yD-crystallin variant's association with cataract. However, the change in pl and the associated surface charge or the altered nature of the amino acid could influence interactions with other lens protein species.