A computer graphics model of frog γ‐crystallin based on the three‐dimensional structure of calf γ‐II crystallin

Abstract

Molecular models for Rana y-l and y-2 crystallins have been constructed using computer graphics on the basis of the protein primary structure derived from the complementary DNA sequence and the three-dimensional structure of calf y-11 crystallin that has been defined at high resolution by X-ray analysis. The models show that the cores of the two domains are conserved as hydrophobic, with the polypeptide chain arranged as a four Greek-key motif structure. Although many lysines replace arginines at equivalent positions in mammalian proteins, the Rana crystallins also have an extensive series of ion pairs on their surface; these are strongly implicated in their function as stable structural molecules, which are highly conserved in the evolution of the vertebrate eye lens. y-CrystallinComputer graphics model