Calpains in the human lens: relations to membranes and possible role in cataract formation

Calpains are Ca-activated neutral proteases present in all cells together with an endogenous inhibitor, calpastatin. Proposed substrates are; cytoskeletal proteins like microtubules and actin, protein kinases such as PKC and membrane-bound enzymes like Ca-ATPase and the Ca-channel. In lenses from different species calpains have been detected in decreasing amounts from the epithelium to the cortex to the nucleus. Several substrates for calpain in the lens have been demonstrated: crystallins, vimentin, actin, beaded filaments and MP26 among others. Both studies on animal models and capsulorhexis indicate that calpains are mainly involved in cortical cataract.