CRYBB1 Antibody – Mouse Monoclonal

Crystallins are separated into two classes: taxon-specific, or enzyme, and ubiquitous. The latter class constitutes the major proteins of vertebrate eye lens and maintains the transparency and refractive index of the lens. Since lens central fiber cells lose their nuclei during development, these crystallins are made and then retained throughout life, making them extremely stable proteins. Mammalian lens crystallins are divided into alpha, beta, and gamma families; beta and gamma crystallins are also considered as a superfamily. Alpha and beta families are further divided into acidic and basic groups. Seven protein regions exist in crystallins: four homologous motifs, a connecting peptide, and N- and C-terminal extensions. Beta-crystallins, the most heterogeneous, differ by the presence of the C-terminal extension (present in the basic group, none in the acidic group). Beta-crystallins form aggregates of different sizes and are able to self-associate to form dimers or to form heterodimers with other beta-crystallins. This gene, a beta basic group member, undergoes extensive cleavage at its N-terminal extension during lens maturation. It is also a member of a gene cluster with beta-A4, beta-B2, and beta-B3. [provided by RefSeq, Jul 2008]

CRYBB1: a major structural protein of the eye lens. A member of the beta/gamma-crystallin family. Specific cleavages in the N-terminal arm occur during lens maturation and give rise to truncated forms, leading to impaired oligomerization and protein insolubilization. The protease responsible for this partial degradation could be calpain II.

Chromosomal Location of Human Ortholog: 22q12.1

Molecular Function: structural constituent of eye lens

Biological Process: visual perception

Disease: Cataract 17, Multiple Types