In vitro interactions of histones and α-crystallin

Paul D. Hamilton, Usha P. Andley

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

6 Scopus citations

Abstract

The aggregation of crystallins in lenses is associated with cataract formation. We previously reported that mutant crystallins are associated with an increased abundance of histones in knock-in and knockout mouse models. However, very little is known about the specific interactions between lens crystallins and histones. Here, we performed in vitro analyses to determine whether α-crystallin interacts with histones directly. Isothermal titration calorimetry revealed a strong histone–α-crystallin binding with a Kd of 4 × 10−7 M, and the thermodynamic parameters suggested that the interaction was both entropy and enthalpy driven. Size-exclusion chromatography further showed that histone–α-crystallin complexes are water soluble but become water insoluble as the concentration of histones is increased. Right-angle light scattering measurements of the water-soluble fractions of histone–α-crystallin mixtures showed a decrease in the oligomeric molecular weight of α-crystallin, indicating that histones alter the oligomerization of α-crystallin. Taken together, these findings reveal for the first time that histones interact with and affect the solubility and aggregation of α-crystallin, indicating that the interaction between α-crystallin and histones in the lens is functionally important.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)7-12
Number of pages6
JournalBiochemistry and Biophysics Reports
Volume15
DOIs
StatePublished - Sep 2018

Keywords

  • Cataract
  • Complex formation
  • Crystallin
  • Histone

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