Abstract 1653 Elucidating the intermolecular interactions of Gamma B Crystallin Proteins

Congenital cataracts are the leading cause of visual impairment and blindness in infants and children worldwide. Unlike senile cataracts, which are typically a result of external stressors, congenital cataracts are caused by a variety of genetic mutations in the eye lens crystallin proteins. In this study, we focused on bovine γB crystallin, a homolog to human γD crystallin. Specifically, we sought to understand how two congenital mutations in γB crystallin (P23T and S130W) affect the protein's ability to cloud at higher temperatures compared to wild-type (non-mutated) γB crystallin.