Specific radioimmunoassays for human alpha and gamma crystallins

The establishment of specific radioimmunoassays for human α- and γ-crystallins is described. The assays were used to evaluate the protein fractions obtained by conventional gel filtration chromatography and ion exchange chromatography of human lenses. It was demonstrated that only young lenses gave homogenous crystallin fractions, the fractions from older lenses consisted of mixtures of various crystallins. With increasing age or cataract formation no increase in α- or decrease in γ-crystallin concentration was found in the soluble protein fractions.