5 Key Takeaways

• 1

  Age-related cataract is the leading cause of blindness globally, driven by lens protein aggregation.

• 2

  Oxidative damage to tryptophan 163 in γS-crystallin destabilizes the protein and promotes cataract formation.

• 3

  The study utilized genetic code expansion to introduce an oxidative mimic, allowing precise investigation of protein modifications.

• 4

  The modified γS-crystallin showed reduced stability and increased aggregation tendency compared to the wild-type protein.

• 5

  Findings may inform strategies to delay cataract formation through antioxidant therapies or stabilizing molecules.