Figure 4. .

Western blots of lens fiber cell connexins with α-tubulin as a control. Cx46 was detected using an antibody against the C-terminus, which is cleaved in MF so only DF protein is detected. Cx50 was detected with an antibody against the cytoplasmic loop, which is not cleaved in MF so both DF and MF lens protein were detected. In either case, the intensity of the major band at 11 months is 51% of that at 11 weeks for either Cx46 or Cx50. The other bands are probably degradation products. These data, like the gap junction coupling conductance data, suggest a loss of connexin protein with age.