In vitro cross-linking of calf lens alpha-crystallin by malondialdehyde

The effect of malondialdehyde on structural features of bovine alpha-crystallin has been investigated by absorption and fluorescence spectroscopy as well as by far-UV circular dichroism. Experimental evidence suggests the occurrence of intermolecular cross-linking induced by malondialdehyde. This cross-linking does not seem to affect the tryptophan environment, as suggested by intrinsic protein fluorescence. On the contrary, the time dependence of far-UV dichroic activity indicates that the cross-linking is accompanied by a secondary structure change. The formation of high molecular mass aggregates, evidence by electrophoresis in denaturing conditions, leads to irreversible alpha-crystallin aggregation due to extensive intermolecular cross-linking. Since malondialdehyde is produced in vivo as a breakdown product of lipid peroxidation the possible involvement of this molecule in the pathological mechanism of cataract formation has been briefly discussed.