晶状体蛋白结构研究进展

Structure of crystallin

蛋白质的结构与其生物学功能密切相关，大分子物质结构解析技术，除传统的X光衍射和核磁共振成像方法不断优化外，近年冷冻电镜的应用大力推动了结构生物学的进展。作为人体内蛋白质含量最高的组织，晶状体在蛋白质相关研究方面颇具优势。近年研究已揭示了部分晶状体蛋白的结构和重要结构域，对其相关生物学功能已有较清晰认识。此外，在多种先进分析技术的推进下，晶状体蛋白高级空间构型的解析工作亦逐步进展。

The structure of proteins is closely related to their biological functions. In addition to the X-ray diffraction and nuclear magnetic resonance imaging methods, the application of cryo-electron microsco- py has greatly promoted the development of structural biology. The protein concentration within human lens is the highest of any tissue in the body. Therefore, lens have the great advantage in the study of protein related research. Recent studies have revealed certain essential structural domains and related biological functions of crystallins. The spatial configuration of the lens protein is gradually progressing under the advancement of an- alytical techniques in structural biology.