The beaded filament of the eye lens: An unexpected key to intermediate filament structure and function

TY - JOUR

T1 - The beaded filament of the eye lens

T2 - An unexpected key to intermediate filament structure and function

AU - Quinlan, Roy A.

AU - Carter, Jane M.

AU - Sandilands, Aileen

AU - Prescott, Alan R.

PY - 1996/1/1

Y1 - 1996/1/1

N2 - In 1959, an unusual filamentous polymer, now called the beaded filament, was described in the lens of the eye. The constituent proteins, assembly properties and functions of the beaded filament have been elusive. The recent publication of the sequences for two major lens filament proteins (CP49 and filensin) and the reconstitution in vitro of structures closely resembling beaded filaments, suggests that the beaded filament is related structurally to intermediate filaments (Ifs). The association of the lenticular chaperones, the α-crystallins, with the filament contributes to the characteristic beaded morphology, as well as giving important clues to the function of this unuszlal filament in the lens. These recent results have several implications for IF function and assembly.

AB - In 1959, an unusual filamentous polymer, now called the beaded filament, was described in the lens of the eye. The constituent proteins, assembly properties and functions of the beaded filament have been elusive. The recent publication of the sequences for two major lens filament proteins (CP49 and filensin) and the reconstitution in vitro of structures closely resembling beaded filaments, suggests that the beaded filament is related structurally to intermediate filaments (Ifs). The association of the lenticular chaperones, the α-crystallins, with the filament contributes to the characteristic beaded morphology, as well as giving important clues to the function of this unuszlal filament in the lens. These recent results have several implications for IF function and assembly.

UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/0030004555

U2 - 10.1016/0962-8924(96)20001-7

DO - 10.1016/0962-8924(96)20001-7

M3 - Comment/debate

AN - SCOPUS:0030004555

SN - 0962-8924

VL - 6

SP - 123

EP - 126

JO - Trends in Cell Biology

JF - Trends in Cell Biology

IS - 4

ER -