Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 29, 2025

Dissection of Human Vitreous Body Elements for Proteomic Analysis
Published on: January 23, 2011
Intrinsic disorder in the human vitreous proteome
Michael Antonietti1, David J Taylor Gonzalez1, Mak B Djulbegovic2
1Bascom Palmer Eye Institute, University of Miami, Miami, FL, United States of America.
Abstract:
The vitreous is a vital component of the eye, occupying a substantial portion of its volume and maintaining its structure. This study delves into the presence and significance of intrinsically disordered proteins (IDPs) within the vitreous, utilizing a dataset of 1240 vitreous proteins previously discovered in the vitreous proteome by Murthy et al.in five healthy subjects. The results indicate that 26.9 % of vitreous proteins are highly disordered, 68.8 % possess moderate disorder, and only 4.3 % are highly ordered. A complex interaction network among these proteins suggests their biological importance, and approximately 25 % may undergo liquid-liquid phase separation (LLPS). These findings offer new perspectives on the vitreous' molecular composition and behavior, potentially impacting our understanding of eye-related diseases, physiological changes such as vitreous syneresis. Further research is needed to translate these insights into clinical applications, although the intrinsic protein disorder and its association with LLPS appears to play a role in vitreous proteome function.
Related Concept Videos
Intrinsically Disordered Proteins
Photoreceptors and Visual Pathways
Glaucoma: Overview
Export of Misfolded Proteins out of the ER
The Proteasome
In this pathway, the target proteins are first tagged with small proteins called ubiquitin. This involves participation of a series of enzymes including— E1 (ubiquitin-activating enzyme), E2 (ubiquitin-conjugating enzyme), and E3...
Amyloid Fibrils
Amyloid deposits were observed as early as 1639 in the liver and the spleen. In 1854, Rudolph Virchow performed iodine staining,...

