       Document 0550
 DOCN  M9640550
 TI    Lens hydration in transgenic mice containing HIV-1 protease linked to
       the lens alpha A-crystallin promoter.
 DT    9604
 AU    Bettelheim FA; Zeng FF; Bia Y; Tumminia SJ; Russell P; Chemistry
       Department, Adelphi University, Garden City, New York; 11530, USA.
 SO    Arch Biochem Biophys. 1995 Dec 20;324(2):223-7. Unique Identifier :
       AIDSLINE MED/96132649
 AB    Two constructs of transgenic mice, TG61 and TG72, containing HIV-1
       protease linked to lens alpha A-crystallin promoter develop cataract.
       The TG61 construct exhibits cataractogenesis in utero, while in the TG72
       construct frank opacities appear 24 days (homozygotes) and 26 days
       (hemizygotes) after birth. Differential scanning calorimetry and
       thermogravimetric analysis studies indicate that the hydration of lenses
       is strongly correlated with cataractogenesis. In all clear lenses
       (normal and precataractous) the total water content was the same, 68%,
       and increased upon opacification. The bound water, measured as
       percentage nonfreezable water of the total water, decreased upon
       cataract formation, indicating a syneretic process. On the other hand,
       the bound water expressed as grams of nonfreezable water per gram dry
       weight increases upon opacification. This implies that proteolysis and
       subsequent enhanced hydration is the primary supramolecular event in
       cataractogenesis and that syneresis in the lens of transgenic mice is of
       secondary importance.
 DE    Animal  Calorimetry, Differential Scanning  Cataract/*ETIOLOGY
       Crystallins/GENETICS  Gene Expression  Heterozygote  Homozygote  HIV
       Protease/GENETICS/*METABOLISM  Lens, Crystalline/EMBRYOLOGY/*METABOLISM
       Mice  Mice, Transgenic  Promoter Regions (Genetics)  Recombinant Fusion
       Proteins/METABOLISM  Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.  Water/*METABOLISM
       JOURNAL ARTICLE

       SOURCE: National Library of Medicine.  NOTICE: This material may be
       protected by Copyright Law (Title 17, U.S.Code).

