BIOPHYSICAL ANALYSIS OF aA­ CRYSTALLIN FUNCTION IN THE REGULATION OF y-CRYSTALLIN GENE EXPRESSION IN EYE LENS

Abstract

The development of tissue structures and the maintenance of characteristic growth pattern within tissues as well as preserve its biophysical functions are important areas for study in the developmental biology. Formation of the transparent ocular lens of vertebrate mirrors many general features of .normal development. This work aimed to study the function of DOTIS-element of yDIE/F-crystallin genes in vitro and in vivo and to explore the role of aA-crystallin in regulating the expression of these genes. Also, to investigate which domain ofaA-crystallin plays a role in the regulation of y-crystallin genes. For this objective, eDNA of complete aA crystallin gene and variotis deletions in both 5' end (N)-terminal and 3'-end terminal (C-terminal) were inserted between EcoRI and Notl sites of the eukaryotic expression vector pTracerSV40. Transfection of various cell lines has been carried out to assess the role of mouse aA-crystallin protein in modulating the promoter activity of the murine yDIE/F-crystallins