Effects of Aging on Intrinsic Protein Disorder in Human Lenses and Zonules.

Michael Antonietti, Colin K Kim, Mak B Djulbegovic, David J Taylor Gonzalez, Jason A Greenfield, Vladimir N Uversky, Allister G Gibbons, Carol L Karp

Bascom Palmer Eye Institute, University of Miami, Miami, FL, USA.Bascom Palmer Eye Institute, University of Miami, Miami, FL, USA. · pubmed

Paper

Abstract

This study aims to compare the levels of intrinsic protein disorder within the human lens and zonule proteomes and investigate the role of aging as a potential influencing factor on disorder levels. A cross-sectional proteomic analysis was employed, utilizing a dataset of 1466 proteins derived from the lens and zonule proteomes previously published by Wang et al. and De Maria et al. Bioinformatics tools, including a composition profiler and a rapid intrinsic disorder analysis online tool, were used to conduct a comparative analysis of protein disorder. Statistical tests such as ANOVA, Tukey's HSD, and chi-squared tests were applied to evaluate differences between groups. The study revealed distinct amino acid compositions for each proteome, showing a direct correlation between aging and increased protein disorder in the zonular proteomes, whereas the lens proteomes exhibited the opposite trend. Findings suggest that age-related changes in intrinsic protein disorder within the lens and zonule proteomes may be linked to structural transformations in these tissues. Understanding how protein disorder evolves with age could enhance knowledge of the molecular basis for age-related conditions such as cataracts and pseudoexfoliation, potentially leading to better therapeutic strategies.

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Research summary

The paper investigates the relationship between aging and intrinsic protein disorder in human lenses and zonules, which is relevant to understanding age-related changes at a molecular level. However, while it contributes to the knowledge of protein disorder and its implications for age-related conditions like cataracts, the findings appear to be more incremental rather than groundbreaking. The study does not directly address root causes of aging or propose significant interventions for lifespan extension, limiting its overall impact.

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