Abnormalities of crystallins in the lens of the CatFraser mouse

We have analysed, by column chromatography and two-dimensional electrophoresis, the soluble proteins present in the lenses of normal mice and of mice heterozygous (Cat/+) and homozygous (Cat/Cat) for the CatFraser mutation which causes a dominantly inherited cataract. In Cat/+ and Cat/Cat lenses, the gamma-crystallins comprise a smaller fraction, and the alpha-crystallins a greater fraction, of the total crystallins present than found in normal lenses. These changes in composition involve all the subunits of each crystallin class and show a dosage effect, the change being greater in Cat/Cat than Cat/+ lenses. In both Cat/+ and Cat/Cat lenses, the beta H-crystallin aggregate is lost and subunits are present which are not detectable in normal lenses.