[Action of mutant genes on crystallin synthesis in the developing mouse lens. III. The aphakia gene]

The synthesis of crystallins was studied by means of indirect immunofluorescence in 10-18 days old embryos and newborn ak/ak mice. Immune gamma-globulins to alpha-, beta- and gamma-crystallins of adult mice were used. A small amount of alpha-crystallins was found in an abnormal lens vesicle of 14 days old ak/ak embryo. The initiation of synthesis of these proteins is, hence, delayed by 4 days, as compared with that in the normal mice. In 15 days old mutant embryos the amount of alpha-crystallins increased markedly and was kept at about the same level till the end of embryogenesis. In the newborn ak/ak mice, the lens material containing alpha-crystallins is distributed among the retinal folds and is not readily identified without immunofluorescence. No lens material was found in the adult mutant mice. gamma- and beta-crystallins were not found in the abnormal lens at all developmental stages studied.