Preliminary Study on Cataractous Human Lenses Using Near-Infrared Fourier Transform Raman Spectroscopy

Raman vibrations of the fingerprint of aromatic amino acid residues were analyzed to study the changes of cataractous lens protein in the cortex and nucleus at various ages. Tryptophan content, analyzed by the quantification of I₇₅₈/I₁₄₄₈ ratio, shows the damage (modification) of tryptophan residue in the nucleus is caused primarily by the formation of cataracts, not by the aging process. Microenvironmental changes of tryptophan and tyrosine were analyzed by the intensity ratios of I₈₇₉/I₇₅₈ and I₈₂₉/I₈₅₃, respectively. The decrease of the ratio of I₈₇₉/I₇₅₈, from 0.9 to 0.6 in the nucleus and from 0.7 to 0.6 for the cortex, reveal that more buried tryptophan residues become exposed in the cortex than in the nucleus during cataractogenesis, especially for non-senile cataractous lenses. The ratio of I₈₂₉/I₈₅₃ is around 1.0 for both cortical and nuclear proteins at various ages, indicating some tyrosine residues have undergone a change in their hydrogen bonding environment. When compared to previous studies, we found that a normal (clear) lens has a higher peak at 1617 cm^?1 than at 1604 cm^?1, while a dense opaque or brunescent lens shows stronger intensity at 1604 cm^?1 than at 1617 cm^?1, suggesting the ratio of I₁₆₁₇/I₁₆₀₄ can be used to evaluate the human lens morphology.     

MALDI imaging mass spectrometry of β‐ and γ‐crystallins in the ocular lens

Lens crystallin proteins make up 90% of expressed proteins in the ocular lens and are primarily responsible for maintaining lens transparency and establishing the gradient of refractive index necessary for proper focusing of images onto the retina. Age‐related modifications to lens crystallins have been linked to insolubilization and cataractogenesis in human lenses. Matrix‐assisted laser desorption/ionization (MALDI) imaging mass spectrometry (IMS) has been shown to provide spatial maps of such age‐related modifications. Previous work demonstrated that, under standard protein IMS conditions, α‐crystallin signals dominated the mass spectrum and age‐related modifications to α‐crystallins could be mapped. In the current study, a new sample preparation method was optimized to allow imaging of β‐ and γ‐crystallins in ocular lens tissue. Acquired images showed that γ‐crystallins were localized predominately in the lens nucleus whereas β‐crystallins were primarily localized to the lens cortex. Age‐related modifications such as truncation, acetylation, and carbamylation were identified and spatially mapped. Protein identifications were determined by top‐down proteomics analysis of lens proteins extracted from tissue sections and analyzed by LC‐MS/MS with electron transfer dissociation. This new sample preparation method combined with the standard method allows the major lens crystallins to be mapped by MALDI IMS.     

Measurement of lens protein aggregation in vivo using dynamic light scattering in a guinea pig/UVA model for nuclear cataract

The role of UVA radiation in the formation of human nuclear cataract is not well understood. We have previously shown that exposing guinea pigs for 5 months to a chronic low level of UVA light produces increased lens nuclear light scattering and elevated levels of protein disulfide. Here we have used the technique of dynamic light scattering (DLS) to investigate lens protein aggregation in vivo in the guinea pig/UVA model. DLS size distribution analysis conducted at the same location in the lens nucleus of control and UVA-irradiated animals showed a 28% reduction in intensity of small diameter proteins in experimental lenses compared with controls (P < 0.05). In addition, large diameter proteins in UVA-exposed lens nuclei increased five-fold in intensity compared to controls (P < 0.05). The UVA-induced increase in apparent size of lens nuclear small diameter proteins was three-fold (P < 0.01), and the size of large diameter aggregates was more than four-fold in experimental lenses compared with controls. The diameter of crystallin aggregates in the UVA-irradiated lens nucleus was estimated to be 350 nm, a size able to scatter light. No significant changes in protein size were detected in the anterior cortex of UVA-irradiated lenses. It is presumed that the presence of a UVA chromophore in the guinea pig lens (NADPH bound to zeta crystallin), as well as traces of oxygen, contributed to UVA-induced crystallin aggregation. The results indicate a potentially harmful role for UVA light in the lens nucleus. A similar process of UVA-irradiated protein aggregation may take place in the older human lens nucleus, accelerating the formation of human nuclear cataract.     

Tryptophan Cluster Protects Human γD‐Crystallin from Ultraviolet Radiation‐Induced Photoaggregation In Vitro

Exposure to ultraviolet radiation (UVR) is a significant risk factor for age‐related cataract, a disease of the human lens and the most prevalent cause of blindness in the world. Cataract pathology involves protein misfolding and aggregation of the primary proteins of the lens, the crystallins. Human γD‐crystallin (HγD‐Crys) is a major γ‐crystallin in the nucleus of the human lens. We report here analysis of UVR‐induced damage to HγD‐Crys in vitro. Irradiation of solutions of recombinant HγD‐Crys with UVA/UVB light produced a rise in solution turbidity due to polymerization of the monomeric crystallins into higher molecular weight aggregates. A significant fraction of this polymerized protein was covalently linked. Photoaggregation of HγD‐Crys required oxygen and its rate was protein concentration and UVR dose dependent. To investigate the potential roles of individual tryptophan residues in photoaggregation, triple W:F mutants of HγD‐Crys were irradiated. Surprisingly, despite reducing UVR absorbing capacity, multiple W:F HγD‐Crys mutant proteins photoaggregated more quickly and extensively than wild type. The results reported here are consistent with previous studies that postulated that an energy transfer mechanism between the highly conserved pairs of tryptophan residues in HγD‐Crys could be protective against UVR‐induced photodamage.     

Immunological Detection of N‐formylkynurenine in Porphyrin‐Mediated Photooxided Lens α‐crystallin

Crystallin proteins are responsible for maintaining lens transparency and allowing the lens to focus light undistorted onto the retina. The α‐crystallins are the major lens crystallins, and function as both structural proteins and chaperones to protect all lens proteins from damage leading to lens deterioration. Because lens crystallin proteins do not turn over, the damage they accumulate can lead to cataracts, the world’s leading cause of blindness. Photosensitizing porphyrins can accumulate in the eye through either endogenous metabolism or through therapeutic or diagnostic procedures. Porphyrin buildup exacerbates lens aging through increased levels of singlet oxygen, resulting in protein polymerization and amino acid residue alteration. Tryptophans oxidize to kynurenine and N‐formylkynurenine (NFK) causing irreversible changes in the refractive index of the normally transparent lens, leading to development of cataracts. Additionally, NFK is itself a photosensitizer, and its presence exacerbates lens deterioration. This work uses anti‐NFK antiserum to study porphyrin‐facilitated photooxidation of α‐crystallin tryptophan residues. In vitro experiments show that four biologically interesting porphyrins mediate α‐crystallin polymerization and accumulation of both protein radicals and NFK. Confocal microscopy of cultured human lens epithelial cells indicates that while all four porphyrins photosensitize cellular proteins, not all oxidize the tryptophans of cellular α‐crystallin to NFK.     

晶状体蛋白识别互作与白内障的研究进展

白内障是全球致盲率最高的眼科疾病, 发病组织为晶状体. 晶状体内纤维细胞含有高浓度的晶状体蛋白, 晶状体蛋白家族分α?, β?和γ?3大亚家族. α-晶状体蛋白具有小分子伴侣功能, 可识别错误折叠蛋白质, 维持晶状体内蛋白质稳态; β?/γ?晶状体蛋白通过分子内或分子间相互作用, 主要发挥结构蛋白功能. 晶状体蛋白在晶状体纤维细胞内呈瞬时有序排列, 精准分子识别及动态相互作用在维持晶状体透明度中发挥关键作用. 晶状体内蛋白质稳态失衡是白内障的主要致病因素. 晶状体蛋白半衰期长, 且翻译合成后不再更新, 广泛受pH值、 金属离子、 辐射损伤和蛋白质翻译后修饰等细胞内外环境因素和化学因素的干扰, 影响晶状体蛋白间的分子识别和相互作用, 诱发白内障. 理清化学调控的晶状体蛋白分子识别及互作调控, 有助于阐明白内障发病机理, 并发掘防治白内障的创新策略. 本文基于晶状体蛋白识别互作与白内障研究进展, 综合评述了晶状体蛋白的分子识别、 相互作用方式、 调控因素及研究技术创新, 并探讨了晶状体蛋白识别互作调控网络在白内障药物研发的应用价值与挑战.     

UVB Irradiation Enhances TiO2 Nanoparticle‐induced Disruption of Calcium Homeostasis in Human Lens Epithelial Cells

Currently, titanium dioxide nanoparticles (TiO₂ NPs) have been widely used in various applications including cosmetics, food additives and biomedicine. However, there are few reports available using TiO₂ NPs to treat ocular diseases. Posterior capsular opacification (PCO) is the most frequent complication after cataract surgery, which is induced by the proliferation and migration of lens epithelial cells. Thus, inhibiting the proliferation of lens epithelial cells will efficiently reduce the occurrence of PCO. In this study, we investigated the effects of TiO₂ NPs on HLE B‐3 cells with or without ultraviolet B (UVB) irradiation in vitro. We found that TiO₂ NPs can inhibit HLE B‐3 cell growth, cause the elevation of intracellular [Ca²⁺], produce excessive reactive oxygen species (ROS), further reduce Ca²⁺‐ATPase activity and decrease the expression of plasma membrane calcium ATPase 1 (PMCA1), finally disrupt the intracellular calcium homeostasis and induce cell damage. Importantly, UVB irradiation can apparently enhance these effects on HLE B‐3 cells in the presence of TiO₂ NPs. Taken together, the generation of excessive ROS and the disruption of intracellular calcium homeostasis may be both involved in TiO₂ nanoparticle‐induced HLE B‐3 cell damage under UVB irradiation.     

Lipid Biomarkers of Lens Aging

Lipids are important structural components of cell membranes and have profound effect on membrane fluidity. Lipid profiling and lipidomics have captured increased attention due to the well-recognized roles of lipids in numerous human diseases. Investigating lipid profiles not only provides insights into the specific roles of lipid molecular species in health and diseases, but can also help in identifying potential preventive or therapeutic biomarkers. Cataract, the loss of transparency of eye lens, is a disease of protein aggregation. There are several factors contributing to the stability in protein conformation. Age-related changes in lipid composition could be a contributing factor for altered protein–lipid interaction leading to protein aggregation and cataract. Keeping this in view, in the present study, fatty acid profiling from different age groups of lenses was carried out, using a freshwater catfish as the model. Total lipids were extracted from lenses of three different age groups of fishes (young, adult, and aged) and fatty acid methyl esters (FAME) were prepared and FAME analysis was carried out using gas chromatography–mass spectrometry. The results showed that three fatty acids viz. heneicosylic acid (C21), docosahexaenoic acid (C22:6), nervonic acid (C24:1) which were not present in the adult lens, appeared in the aged lens. On the other hand, eicosenoic acid (C20:1) present in the adult lens was found to be absent in the aged lens. The appearance or disappearance of these fatty acids can possibly serve as biomarkers of aging lens which is the most vulnerable stage for cataract development.     

Ability of N‐acetylcarnosine to protect lens crystallins from oxidation and oxidative damage by radical probe mass spectrometry (RP‐MS)

The application of Radical Probe Mass Spectrometry based on protein footprinting studies is described to investigate the effectiveness of the antioxidant N‐acetylcarnosine (NAC) in preventing oxidative damage to lens crystallins present in the eye of mammals. Despite separate clinical trials which have reported the benefit of administering NAC to the eye as a 1% topical solution for the treatment of human cataract, no evidence was found to suggest that the antioxidant had any significant direct effect on reducing the levels of oxidation within the most abundant lens crystallins, α and β‐crystallin, at the molecular level at increasing concentrations of NAC. The results of this laboratory study suggest that the therapeutic benefit demonstrated in clinical trials is associated with the nature or formulation of the topical solution and/or that the mode of action of NAC as an antioxidant is not a direct one. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Application of solid‐phase extraction for the concentration of chromophores,fluorophores, and photosensitizers from lens protein digests

Solid‐phase extraction was applied for the separation of protein digests obtained from aged human lenses, cataractous human lenses, calf lens proteins in vitro glycated with dehydroascorbic acid and native calf lens proteins. Four fractions were collected after stepwise elution with different solvents. The first fraction contained about 80% of the digested material possessing free amino groups. At the same time, the third and the fourth fractions were enriched in chromophores, fluorophores, and photosensitizing structures that originate mainly from advanced protein glycation. The comparison between the total digest and the fourth fraction based on their UV absorption at 330 nm, intensity of fluorescence (excitation/emission 350/450 nm), and production of singlet oxygen upon UVA irradiation argues that the solid‐phase extraction was capable of concentrating the advanced glycation end‐products about a hundredfold. Thus, this technique is a useful step for separation and concentration of fluorophores, chromophores, and photosensitizers from aged and glycated lens protein digests.     

Study of trace-element metabolism during the formation of rat's cataract

A cataract in the lenses of Wistar rats was induced by injecting Na₂SeO₃ into their bodies; they exhibited various kinds of cataract between 8 and 28 days. Samples were prepared using the method of low temperature ashing. The trace-element analyses of samples of different kinds of lenses were carried out by PIXE method. From the results obtained we have studied the ratio of their concentrations relative to the control values in relation to the formation time of cataract. It was found that the metabolites, of most trace-elements in the control lenses are stable, but in various kinds of cataractous lenses they display certain changes. Elements are clearly divided into two types. Elements of the first type are S, Cl, Ca, Fe and Zn. They appear to accumulate relative to the controls, while the second type, P, K and Rb, shows deficiency. The functions of trace-element metabolism during the formation of cataract are also discussed.     

Focal length variability and protein leakage as tools for measuring photooxidative damage to the lens

Hypericin is the ingredient used to standardize the popular over-the-counter antidepressant medication St. John's Wort. Because hypericin readily produces singlet oxygen and other excited state intermediates, it is a very efficient phototoxic agent in the eye that can potentially induce the development of the cataract photooxidative mechanism. Hypericin absorbs in the UV and visible ranges, binds to the lens crystallins (alpha, beta and gamma) and damages these proteins through a photooxidative mechanism. Effects were measured previously using fluorescence, UV and mass spectrometry. We report here two additional methods to monitor lens damage: (1) measuring focal length variability using a ScanTox instrument and (2) measuring protein leakage from the damaged lens. Because nonenzymic glycation results in free radical production, we chose to use elevated glucose concentrations as a convenient model for studying oxidative stress. To compare and contrast photooxidative damage against oxidative damage to the lens, we also measured the focal length variability and protein leakage induced by the presence of elevated glucose concentrations. We found that the total accumulated protein leakage was positively correlated (r = 0.9) with variability in focal length. Lenses treated with hypericin and irradiated with UVB had an increase in focal length variability as compared with the lenses that were only UVB-irradiated. Lenses without UVB irradiation had much lower focal length variability than irradiated lenses. For non-hypericin-treated lenses, UVB-irradiated lenses had a larger variability (4.58 mm) than the unirradiated lenses (1.78 mm). The lenses incubated in elevated glucose concentrations had a focal length variability (3.23 mm) equivalent to that of the unirradiated hypericin-treated lenses (3.54 mm). We conclude that photooxidative damage by hypericin results in changes in the optical properties of the lens, protein leakage and finally cataract formation. In contrast to this, high concentrations of glucose induced protein leakage but not changes in optical properties or the opacity associated with a cataract. This work provides further evidence that people should protect their eyes from intense sunlight when taking St. John's Wort.     

The chemical composition and bonding structure of amorphous hydrogenated carbon nitride film on aluminum surface deposited by electrodeposition

Amorphous hydrogenated carbon nitride films with excellent adhesion to the substrates were deposited on the surfaces of aluminum plates by electrodeposition with acetonitrile as carbon source. The as‐obtained films were detailed characterized by Raman, XPS and FTIR. The results show that the as‐obtained films are mainly made up of sp2 C, sp3 C, C? N, C?N bonds and a spot of sp3? CH₂, sp3? CH₃, sp3? CH and sp2? CH bonds. The atomic ratio of N/C is evaluated to be about 2.98 at.% by XPS. Raman analysis indicated that I_D/I_G ratios decreased from 0.827 to 0.675 when the deposition time increased from 10 to 20 h. At the end, on the basis of the detailed analysis, results of Raman, FTIR and XPS, the possible deposition mechanism was discussed. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Quantitative photoacoustic spectroscopy of cataractous human lenses

Quantitative photoacoustic spectra of the nuclei of cataractous human lenses with various degrees of colouration and opacification were measured in the spectral range 250-600 nm. The lens nuclei were obtained from 20 cataractous patients through extracapsular cataract extraction. These measurements yield the light loss per unit path length in the nucleus of cataractous lenses.     

PHOTOSENSITIZED OXIDATION IN THE OCULAR LENS: EVIDENCE FOR PHOTOSENSITIZERS ENDOGENOUS TO THE HUMAN LENS

Abstract— Numerous investigators have attempted to associate near UV light exposure with various changes which occur to lens crystallins during aging and cataractogenesis. Recently we have shown in vitro that singlet oxygen mediated oxidation of lens crystallins produces effects very similar to those documented for crystallins from old or cataractous lenses and suggested that near UV photodynamic effects may play a major role in vivo in aging in the human lens. In the present work we demonstrate that certain oxidation products of tryptophan which have been identified in human lens can act as near UV photosensitizers, producing singlet oxygen. The insoluble protein fraction from human cataracts is shown to have the capacity to act as a photosensitizer. An age-related increase in photosensitizing capacity is also demonstrated in the soluble crystallins from human lens. These findings are discussed with respect to development of pigmented nuclear cataracts.     

Reactivity of Fluoro‐Substituted Bis(thiocarbonyl) Donors with Diiodine: An XRD,FT–Raman,and DFT Investigation

The reactions of 1,3,8,10‐tetrakis(4′‐fluorophenyl)‐4,5,6,7‐tetrathiocino[1,2‐b:3,4‐b′]diimidazolyl‐2,9‐dithione ( 4 ) and molecular diiodine afforded spoke adducts with stoichiometries 4·I2 and 4? 3I₂, isolated in the compound 4? 3I₂ ? xCH₂Cl₂ ? (1?x)I₂ (x=0.70), and characterized by single‐crystal XRD and FT–Raman spectroscopy. The nature of the reaction products was investigated under the prism of theoretical calculations carried out at the DFT level. The structural data, FT–Raman spectroscopy, and quantum mechanical calculations agree in indicating that the introduction of fluorophenyl substituents results in a lowering of the Lewis basicity of this class of bis(thiocarbonyl) donors compared with alkyl‐substituted tetrathiocino donors and fluorine allows for extended interactions that are responsible for solid‐state crystal packing.     

Formation of T‐Shaped versus Charge‐Transfer Molecular Adducts in the Reactions Between Bis(thiocarbonyl) Donors and Br2 and I2

The reactions of 4,5,6,7‐tetrathiocino‐[1,2‐b:3,4‐b′]‐1,3,8,10‐tetrasubstituted‐diimidazolyl‐2,9‐dithiones (R₂,R′₂‐todit; 1 : R=R′=Et; 2 : R=R′=Ph; 3 : R=Et, R′=Ph) with Br₂ exclusively afforded 1:1 and 1:2 “T‐shaped” adducts, as established by FT‐Raman spectroscopy and single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction in the case of complex 1? 2 Br₂. On the other hand, the reactions of compounds 1 – 3 with molecular I₂ provided charge‐transfer (CT) “spoke” adducts, among which the solvated species 3? 2 I₂ ? (1?x)I₂ ? x CH₂Cl₂ (x=0.94) and ( 3 )₂ ? 7 I₂ ? x CH₂Cl_2, (x=0.66) were structurally characterized. The nature of all of the reaction products was elucidated based on elemental analysis and FT‐Raman spectroscopy and supported by theoretical calculations at the DFT level.     

石墨炉原子吸收光谱法测定不同镍环境下人眼晶状体的镍量

利用高灵敏度的石墨炉原子吸收光谱仪对来自不同镍环境和不同状态的40个人眼晶状体中的镍进行了测试。在测试中，采用了方便的HNO，消解法对样品进行预处理，通过实验比较测得普通石墨管对镍的特征质量是长寿命石墨管的4．6倍，然后用长寿命石墨管对各种样品的消解后获得的测试液进行镍的测定，由此得到每个人眼晶状体中的绦量。结果表明：正常人的透明晶状体中的镍量明显低于患有白内障人眼晶状体中的镍量；而与镍矿直接接触的白内障患者的晶状体中的镍量显著高于非直接接触镍矿白内障患者和一般白内障患者晶状体中的镍量。这种关联表明人眼晶状体中的镍元素可能是白内障的致病因素之一。     

Molecular mass distribution of water-soluble crystallins from the human foetal lens during development

The water-soluble crystallins of twenty human foetal lenses with gestational ages of 112-231 days were analysed by size-exclusion chromatography. The crystallin distribution showed similar patterns for all foetal lenses, but clear changes in the proportions of different crystallins were evident. The distribution showed that the water-soluble part of all the lenses already contained high-molecular-mass material. Also beta-crystallins of high molecular mass (beta H), formed by post-translational changes, were detected in all stages. During gestation, the percentage of high-molecular-mass crystallins and of alpha-crystallins of low molecular mass (alpha L) decreased significantly. The total beta-crystallins (beta T) and the total gamma-crystallins (gamma T) increased significantly. The low Mr crystallins were resolved into three peaks, designated beta s-, gamma H- and gamma L-crystallins. They increased significantly during development. These significant increases of the low Mr crystallins took place exclusively in the developing lens. The rate of protein synthesis of the low Mr crystallins was 23% of the total water-soluble crystallin synthesis rate.     

Authentication of Camellia oleifera Abel Oil by Near Infrared Fourier Transform Raman Spectroscopy

Adulteration of Camellia oleifera Abel. oil with other cheaper oil has been a long‐term problem in Taiwan because the price of Camellia oleifera Abel. oil is much higher than that of other edible oils due to its distinguished physiological properties. To develop an efficient method for determining the authenticity of Camellia oleifera Abel. oil is of great importance. In previous study (Appl. Spectrosc. 2003 , 57, 413), we showed that the Raman intensity ratio of ν₁₆₅₆/ν₁₄₃₉ was capable of reflecting precisely the degree of unsaturation in edible oils. Accordingly, we further present this Raman method to determine the authenticity of Camellia oleifera Abel. oil. It showed that the intensity ratio (I_{ν1656/ν1439}) changed concomitantly with the magnitude of double bonds in the binary mixtures of Camellia oleifera Abel. oil blended with other edible oil. A linear relationship with a high correlation coefficient (R² = 0.9938) between the Raman intensity ratio of ν₁₆₅₆/ν₁₄₃₉ and the percentage of Camellia oleifera Abel. oil was obtained, which could be used to determine the authenticity of Camellia oleifera Abel. oils collected from various markets. It shows that FT‐Raman spectroscopy provides a direct, simple, rapid, and non‐invasive method to probe the authenticity of Camellia oleifera Abel. oil.