Chemicals and Drugs

beta-Crystallins

A class of crystallins that provides refractive power and translucency to the lens (LENS, CRYSTALLINE) in VERTEBRATES. Beta-crystallins are similar in structure to GAMMA-CRYSTALLINS in that they both contain Greek key motifs. Beta-crystallins exist as oligomers formed from acidic (BETA-CRYSTALLIN A CHAIN) and basic (BETA-CRYSTALLIN B CHAIN) subunits.

National Library of MedicineMedical Subject Headings2026

Structured Summary

Abstract

A class of crystallins that provides refractive power and translucency to the lens (LENS, CRYSTALLINE) in VERTEBRATES. Beta-crystallins are similar in structure to GAMMA-CRYSTALLINS in that they both contain Greek key motifs. Beta-crystallins exist as oligomers formed from acidic (BETA-CRYSTALLIN A CHAIN) and basic (BETA-CRYSTALLIN B CHAIN) subunits.

MeSH Record

Classification

Related Concepts

Knowledge Graph

Loading graph…

Drag nodes to rearrange; hover to trace links; click a node to open its page.

MeSH Record

Synonyms

4 entry terms
  • Crystallins, beta
  • beta-Crystallin
  • beta Crystallin
  • beta Crystallins

MeSH Record

Aspects Covered

30 allowable subheadings

Indexed with the subheadings administration & dosage, adverse effects, agonists, analysis, antagonists & inhibitors, biosynthesis, blood, cerebrospinal fluid, chemical synthesis, chemistry, classification, deficiency, 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

History Note

2003; for BETA-CRYSTALLIN use CRYSTALLINS 1982-2002

MeSH Record

Previous Indexing

  • Crystallins (1966-2002)

MeSH Hierarchy

Tree Number

AMA Style

References

  1. National Library of Medicine. beta-Crystallins. Medical Subject Headings (MeSH). 2026. Unique ID D038204. http://id.nlm.nih.gov/mesh/2026/D038204
  2. beta-Crystallins. In: Wikidata. https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q76452626