Antioxidant properties of alpha-crystallin

J Protein Chem. 2001 Apr;20(3):181-9. doi: 10.1023/a:1010996528884.

Abstract

alpha-Crystallin is a major chaperone lens protein to which has been ascribed antioxidant functions. In the present work we have evaluated the antioxidant and free radical scavenging properties of bovine alpha-crystallin in a series of in vitro models: zimosan-induced, luminol-enhanced chemiluminescence response of polymorphonuclear leukocytes, the autoxidation of brain homogenate, bleaching of 2,2'-azinobis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid)-derived radical cations, trapping of peroxyl radicals, and reactivity toward hypochloric acid. In all these systems, the reactivity of alpha-crystallin is higher than or similar to that of bovine serum albumin. It is concluded that, given the high concentrations of ol-crystallin in the lenses, its capacity to interact with free radicals and to remove hypochlorous acid could contribute to the maintenance of the lens functionality.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antioxidants / metabolism*
  • Brain / enzymology
  • Brain / metabolism
  • Cattle
  • Crystallins / isolation & purification
  • Crystallins / metabolism*
  • Crystallins / pharmacology
  • Free Radicals
  • Humans
  • Hypochlorous Acid / metabolism
  • Lens, Crystalline / chemistry
  • Luminescent Measurements
  • Neutrophils / chemistry
  • Neutrophils / drug effects
  • Neutrophils / immunology
  • Neutrophils / metabolism*
  • Oxidation-Reduction
  • Peroxides / metabolism
  • Phycocyanin / metabolism
  • Thiobarbituric Acid Reactive Substances / metabolism
  • Zymosan / immunology
  • Zymosan / pharmacology

Substances

  • Antioxidants
  • Crystallins
  • Free Radicals
  • Peroxides
  • Thiobarbituric Acid Reactive Substances
  • Phycocyanin
  • perhydroxyl radical
  • Hypochlorous Acid
  • Zymosan