Figure 2.

Effect of pantethine (P) and glutathione (G) on chaperone-like activity of α-crystallin on the aggregation of β_L-crystallins at 60°C. (A) Protein concentrations of β_L- and α-crystallin were adjusted to approximately 20:1 (β_L/α) to provide partial protection against aggregation and to permit observation of the effects of the added reagents. ○, β_L plus α standard without additions; □, plus 1.0 mM pantethine; ▵, plus 10 mM pantethine; •, plus 1.0 mM glutathione; ▴, plus 10 mM glutathione. In the presence of α-crystallin, pantethine had a stronger protective effect than glutathione on aggregation of β_L-crystallin. (B) Effect of pantethine and glutathione on β_L-crystallin alone. ○, β_L standard without additives; □, plus 10 mM pantethine; ▵, plus 20 mM pantethine; •, plus 10 mM glutathione; ▴, plus 20 mM glutathione. In the absence of α-crystallin, pantethine had a weak effect on aggregation of β_L-crystallin and glutathione increased aggregation of β_L-crystallin. All solutions were in 150 mM PBS (pH 7.0), at a final volume of 0.4 ml. The OD was normalized as described.