Overview:

CRYAA or crystallin alpha A is the major protein components of the vertebrate eye lens which is composed of 2 primary gene products--alpha-A and alpha-B. CRYAA can be induced by heat shock and are members of the small heat shock protein (sHSP also known as the HSP20) family (1). CRYAA plays an important role in the normal embryologic development of the anterior segment of the eye. In the Elo mouse, a 1-bp deletion in the gamma-E-crystallin gene causes autosomal dominant cataract and microphthalmia (2).

Gene Aliases:

CRYA1; HSPB4

Genbank Number:

NM_000394

References:

1. Moormann, R. J. et.al: Extensive intragenic sequence homology in two distinct rat lens gamma-crystallin cDNAs suggests duplications of a primordial gene. Proc. Nat. Acad. Sci. 79: 6876-6880, 1982.

2. Cartier, M. et.al: A frameshift mutation in the gamma-E-crystallin gene of the Elo mouse. Nature Genet. 2: 42-45, 1992. Note: Erratum: Nature Genet. 2: 343 only, 1992.