A novel mutation in CRYBB1 associated with congenital cataract-microcornea syndrome: the p.Ser129Arg mutation destabilizes the ?B1/?A3-crystallin heteromer but not the ?B1-crystallin homomer.
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ABSTRACT: Congenital cataract-microcornea syndrome (CCMC) is a clinically and genetically heterogeneous condition characterized by lens opacities and microcornea. It appears as a distinct phenotype of heritable congenital cataract. Here we report a large Chinese family with autosomal dominant congenital cataract and microcornea. Evidence for linkage was detected at marker D22S1167 (LOD score [Z]=4.49, recombination fraction [?]=0.0), which closely flanks the â-crystallin gene cluster locus. Direct sequencing of the candidate âB1-crystallin gene (CRYBB1) revealed a c.387C>A transversion in exon 4, which cosegregated with the disease in the family and resulted in the substitution of serine by arginine at codon 129 (p.Ser129Arg). A comparison of the biophysical properties of the recombinant ?-crystallins revealed that the mutation impaired the structures of both ?B1-crystallin homomer and ?B1/?A3-crystallin heteromer. More importantly, the mutation significantly decreased the thermal stability of ?B1/?A3-crystallin but not ?B1-crystallin. These findings highlight the importance of protein-protein interactions among ?-crystallins in maintaining lens transparency, and provide a novel insight into the molecular mechanism underlying the pathogenesis of human CCMC.
SUBMITTER: Wang KJ
PROVIDER: S-EPMC3087119 | biostudies-literature | 2011 Mar
REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature
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