Chemicals and Drugs

Crystallins

A heterogeneous family of water-soluble structural proteins found in cells of the vertebrate lens. The presence of these proteins accounts for the transparency of the lens. The family is composed of four major groups, alpha, beta, gamma, and delta, and several minor groups, which are classed on the basis of size, charge, immunological properties, and vertebrate source. Alpha, beta, and delta crystallins occur in avian and reptilian lenses, while alpha, beta, and gamma crystallins occur in all other lenses.

National Library of MedicineMedical Subject Headings2026

Structured Summary

Abstract

A heterogeneous family of water-soluble structural proteins found in cells of the vertebrate lens. The presence of these proteins accounts for the transparency of the lens. The family is composed of four major groups, alpha, beta, gamma, and delta, and several minor groups, which are classed on the basis of size, charge, immunological properties, and vertebrate source. Alpha, beta, and delta crystallins occur in avian and reptilian lenses, while alpha, beta, and gamma crystallins occur in all other lenses.

MeSH Record

Classification

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MeSH Record

Synonyms

6 entry terms
  • Crystallin
  • Lens Proteins
  • Proteins, Lens
  • Eye Lens Protein
  • Lens Protein, Eye
  • Protein, Eye Lens

MeSH Record

Aspects Covered

29 allowable subheadings

Indexed with the subheadings administration & dosage, adverse effects, agonists, analysis, antagonists & inhibitors, biosynthesis, blood, cerebrospinal fluid, chemical synthesis, chemistry, classification, drug effects, economics, genetics, history, immunology, isolation & purification, metabolism, pharmacokinetics, pharmacology, physiology, poisoning, radiation effects, standards, supply & distribution, therapeutic use, toxicity, ultrastructure, urine.

MeSH Record

Indexing Annotation

not for crystalline lens ( = LENS, CRYSTALLINE)

MeSH Record

History Note

68(64)

MeSH Hierarchy

Tree Number

AMA Style

References

  1. National Library of Medicine. Crystallins. Medical Subject Headings (MeSH). 2026. Unique ID D003459. http://id.nlm.nih.gov/mesh/2026/D003459
  2. Crystallins. In: Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crystallin
  3. Crystallins. In: Wikidata. https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q2992167