Cataract disease, the leading cause of blindness worldwide, is the end result of increased scattering of light within the human ocular lens. The proposed research aims to examine the molecular origins of age-related increased light scattering in the human lens. Static and quasielastic light scattering will be used: First. to quantitate the light scattered from the mobile and immobile scattering sources in the intact, normal human lens in vitro as functions of age. Second, to examine the role of protein interactions in producing the light scattered from the young human lens. Third, to develop a concentrated in vitro lens protein model system containing protein aggregates as well as interprotein interactions, as in the ocular lens cytoplasm, and examine the relevant principles governing static and quasielastic light scattering. Fourth, to study the kinetics of lens protein aggregation in both dilute solutions and in concentrated solutions in which interprotein interactions substantially mediate the kinetics.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Eye Institute (NEI)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
1R01EY011840-01A1
Application #
2701439
Study Section
Visual Sciences A Study Section (VISA)
Project Start
1998-07-01
Project End
2002-06-30
Budget Start
1998-07-01
Budget End
1999-06-30
Support Year
1
Fiscal Year
1998
Total Cost
Indirect Cost
Name
Brigham and Women's Hospital
Department
Type
DUNS #
071723621
City
Boston
State
MA
Country
United States
Zip Code
02115
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Stradner, A; Foffi, G; Dorsaz, N et al. (2007) New insight into cataract formation: enhanced stability through mutual attraction. Phys Rev Lett 99:198103
Thurston, George M (2006) Liquid-liquid phase separation and static light scattering of concentrated ternary mixtures of bovine alpha and gammaB crystallins. J Chem Phys 124:134909
Bloustine, J; Virmani, T; Thurston, G M et al. (2006) Light scattering and phase behavior of lysozyme-poly(ethylene glycol) mixtures. Phys Rev Lett 96:087803