Mollusc Crystallins: Physical and Chemical Properties and Phylogenetic Analysis

The purpose of the present study was to perform bioinformatic analysis crystallin diversity in aquatic molluscs based on sequences NCBI Protein database. objectives were as follows: (1) some physical and chemical properties mollusc crystallins, (2) comparison crystallins with zebrafish cubomedusa Tripedalia cystophora (3) determination most probable candidates for role gastropod eye crystallins. calculated average GRAVY values revealed that majority seven groups, except μ- ζ-crystallins, hydrophilic proteins. predominant predicted secondary structures cases α-helices coils. highest refractive index increment (dn/dc) typical organisms known lens protein composition (zebrafish, cubomedusa, octopuses) S-crystallin Pomacea canaliculata. evolutionary relationships between studied obtained from multiple sequence alignments using Clustal Omega MUSCLE, normalized conservation index, by Mirny, showed conservative proteins Ω-crystallins but diverse S-crystallins. phylogenetic generally consistent modern taxonomy. Thus, α- S-, and, possibly, J1A-crystallins, can be assumed likely