First Author | Iwaki T | Year | 1989 |
Journal | Cell | Volume | 57 |
Issue | 1 | Pages | 71-8 |
PubMed ID | 2539261 | Mgi Jnum | J:44594 |
Mgi Id | MGI:1100546 | Doi | 10.1016/0092-8674(89)90173-6 |
Citation | Iwaki T, et al. (1989) Alpha B-crystallin is expressed in non-lenticular tissues and accumulates in Alexander's disease brain. Cell 57(1):71-8 |
abstractText | Rosenthal fibers (RFs) are abnormal inclusions within astrocytes, characteristic of Alexander's disease. We have previously isolated a 22 kd protein component of RFs from Alexander's disease brain. By Western blotting, we detected its equivalent in several rat organs, with the highest level in heart, and in a human astrocytoma cell line (U-373MG). A cDNA library established from U-373MG was screened with an anti-RF protein antibody. A partial cDNA clone encoding the lens protein alpha B-crystallin was isolated. The anti-RF protein antibodies react with lens alpha B-crystallin. Furthermore, the distribution of alpha B-crystallin mRNA in rat organs is consistent with the Western blots. Therefore, alpha B-crystallin is not lens-specific and it can accumulate in large amounts in astrocytes in pathological conditions. |