The Ontogeny and Specificity of Human Lens Proteins.

The ontogeny and specificity of human lens proteins were studied by immunologic and starch gel electrophoretic methods. Nine antigens were detected in noncataractous lenses by immunoelectrophoresis, while 16 components were formed on starch gel analysis. Of the different antigens, only one was specific for man and anthropoid apes. This antigen which reflected a high degree of species specificity was first detected in the lenses of 6-month-old fetuses after the appearance of the other proteins. Starch gel studies showed that alpha and gamma crystallins are the predominant proteins in the earlier stages of lens development. Furthermore, at least two of these gamma crystallins are markedly decreased in senile cataractous lenses.