Chem. J. Chinese Universities ›› 2021, Vol. 42 ›› Issue (11): 3379.doi: 10.7503/cjcu20210441

• Review • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Research Progress of Molecular Recognition and Interaction of Crystallins Linking Cataract

LIN Ningqin1, YAO Ke2, CHEN Xiangjun1,2()   

  1. 1.Institute of Translational Medicine,Zhejiang University School of Medicine,Hangzhou 310020,China
    2.Eye Center of the Second Affiliated Hospital,Zhejiang University School of Medicine,Hangzhou 310009,China
  • Received:2021-06-28 Online:2021-11-10 Published:2021-08-17
  • Contact: CHEN Xiangjun E-mail:chenxiangjun@zju.edu.cn
  • Supported by:
    the National Natural Science Foundation of China(31872724);the Natural Science Foundation of Zhejiang Province, China(LR21H120001)

Abstract:

Cataract formation is the leading cause of blindness across the globe. The eye lens is the onset site of cataract. The eye lens is densely packed with crystallins at a high concentration. Crystallins are categorized into 3 distinct families: α?β?, and γ-CRYs. The α-CRYs are known to function as a small molecule chape- rone, recognizing misfolded proteins and maintaining protein homeostasis in the lens. While the β?/γ-CRYs serve a key structural role in lens formation through intramolecular and intermolecular interactions. Crystallins are arranged in transiently short-range order within the lens fibers. In addition, the molecular recognition and dynamic protein interactions that are medicated by crystallins serve a critical role in maintaining the transpa-rency of the eye lens. Protein homeostasis disorder in eye lens is the main pathogenic factors causing cataract. The crystallins have a long half-life and no longer renewed after protein synthesis. Therefore, the crystallins are highly susceptible to both the extracellular and intracellular factors, such as pH, metal ions, radiation damage and post-translational modifications. These factors disrupt molecular recognition of the crystallins or alter protein-protein interactions, resulting in cataract formation. Identifying the chemical regulatory principles of molecular recognition and protein interactions of the crystallins can help elucidate the molecular mechanisms that maintain or disrupt lens transparency, along with developing innovative treatment strategies for cataract. In this review, based on recent progress in crystallins and cataracts, we comprehensively summarized the way of molecular recognition and protein interaction in the crystallins, as well as the regulatory factors. Recent technological innovations that were enabling us to characterize interactions between the crystallins were further discussed. In addition, we investigated the application values and challenges of protein-protein interaction networks that were dominated by the crystallins in the anti-cataract drug development.

Key words: Crystallin, Cataract, Chemical regulation, Molecular recognition, Protein-protein interaction, Liquid-liquid phase separation

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