Long-term objectives of the proposed research are to test the hypothesis that the lens cytoskeleton and its associated proteins are involved in maintaining lens shape, in lens accommodation and development of presbyopia, and in formation of certain kinds of cataract when the cytoskeleton is disrupted.
One specific aim i s to assess the role of cytosolic free calcium on homeostasis of the lens cytoskeleton.
A second aim i s to determine whether changes in the ratio of soluble (C) actin to filamentous (F) actin in lens cells occurs during aging. Changes in calcium levels in lenses of different ages will also be monitored, since certain actin-binding proteins that polymerize actin and attach actin filaments to plasma membranes are affected by intracellular calcium. if lens actin shifts heavily to the polymerized form it may resist accommodative lens shape changes, resulting in presbyopia.
A third aim i s to study the effect of ultraviolet light on the lens cytoskeleton and to determine the target that causes disruption of the cytoskeleton. The effect of UV light on intracellular calcium levels in lens epithelial cells will be studied, to determine whether UV disruption of the cytoskeleton operates indirectly through an effect on calcium levels. Methods to be used are DNAase I inhibition assay to find the ratios of G/F actin; fluorometric measurement of calcium concentrations in epithelia of lenses treated with calcium-channel blockers, calcium-ATPase inhibitors, inositol trisphosphate, lowered extracellular calcium, and mechanical stretching. Measurements are made using fluorescent calcium indicators (Fluo-3 and Fura-2) loaded into lens epithelial cells in vitro. Other methods used to identify proteins and assess changes resulting from aging, changing intracellular calcium concentrations, and UV irradiation damage are SDS-PAGE and immunoblotting, immunofluorescence microscopy, and immunogold transmission and scanning electron microscopy. Antibodies against spectrin, ankyrin, vinculin, tubulin and vimentin will be used in these studies. Animals: Rabbits.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Eye Institute (NEI)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01EY000698-22
Application #
3255514
Study Section
Visual Sciences A Study Section (VISA)
Project Start
1981-04-01
Project End
1994-03-31
Budget Start
1992-04-01
Budget End
1993-03-31
Support Year
22
Fiscal Year
1992
Total Cost
Indirect Cost
Name
Northwestern University at Chicago
Department
Type
Schools of Dentistry
DUNS #
005436803
City
Chicago
State
IL
Country
United States
Zip Code
60611
Rafferty, N S; Rafferty, K A; Zigman, S (1997) Comparative response to UV irradiation of cytoskeletal elements in rabbit and skate lens epithelial cells. Curr Eye Res 16:310-9
Zigman, S; Rafferty, N S (1994) Catalase activity in dogfish (Mustelus canis) ocular tissues. Biol Bull 187:247-8
Zigman, S; Rafferty, N S (1994) Effects of near UV radiation and antioxidants on the response of dogfish (Mustelus canis) lens to elevated H2O2. Comp Biochem Physiol Physiol 109:463-7
Rafferty, N S; Rafferty, K A; Ito, E (1994) Agonist-induced rise in intracellular calcium of lens epithelial cells: effects on the actin cytoskeleton. Exp Eye Res 59:191-201
Rafferty, N S; Zigman, S; McDaniel, T et al. (1993) Near-UV radiation disrupts filamentous actin in lens epithelial cells. Cell Motil Cytoskeleton 26:40-8
Zigman, S; Rafferty, N S; Scholz, D L et al. (1992) The effects of near-UV radiation on elasmobranch lens cytoskeletal actin. Exp Eye Res 55:193-201
Rafferty, N S; Rafferty, K A (1992) Lens cytoskeleton and after-cataract. Acta Ophthalmol Suppl :34-45
Rafferty, N S; Scholz, D L (1991) Development of actin polygonal arrays in rabbit lens epithelial cells. Curr Eye Res 10:637-43
Rafferty, N S; Scholz, D L; Goldberg, M et al. (1990) Immunocytochemical evidence for an actin-myosin system in lens epithelial cells. Exp Eye Res 51:591-600
Liou, W (1990) Whole-mount preparations of mouse lens epithelium for the fluorescent cytological study of actin. J Microsc 157:239-45

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