Schiff's base formation in the lens protein γ-crystallin

Uniquely among the soluble lens-specific proteins, γ-crystallin is capable of binding the strongly chromophoric aldehyde retinal. a role for γ-crystallin in protecting lens components from toxic aldehydes resulting from membrane oxidation is proposed and a molecular model of the probable interaction site is presented. The sequence of a tetrapeptide at this site is identical to that of the retinal binding site of bacteriorhodopsin.