Anti-α B Crystallin (11073-100ul)

Alpha crystallins are water-soluble lens proteins of the vertebrate eye that are related to the small heat shock protein family. Lens crystallins are divided into alpha, beta, and gamma families. Alpha crystallins are further divided into acidic (Alpha A) and basic (Alpha B) groups. In the lens, alpha crystallin maintains proper refractive index, however it can also function as a molecular chaperone that binds to denatured proteins, keeping them in solution and maintaining the translucency of the lens. In response to cellular stress, alpha crystallin is phosphorlyated and may serve a structural control function and play a role in protein maintenance. Both alpha A and alpha B crystallin prevent apoptosis by inhibiting caspases. Alpha B crystallin is found in many cells and organs outside the lens and is over-expressed in cells subjected to stress conditions and in several neurological disorders.