The Herpetological Journal

pp.298-304

Authors: Beate Röll

Abstract: The ocular lenses of the Gekkonidae differ in their crystallin compositions. The lenses of all species investigated contain variable amounts of α-, β-, γ-, and t-crystallins, which are commonly found in lenses of various vertebrates. Additionally, in lenses of the distantly related genera Phelsuma and Lepidodactylus another crystallin has been found which is a 38 kDa monomer and comprises about 20% of the total amount of crystallins. All other gekkonid species investigated, both nocturnal and diurnal, do not possess this crystallin. This distribution is highly surprising. It neither supports a possible correlation between similarity of crystallin composition and similarity of habits, nor a possible correlation between crystallin composition and phylogenetic relationship. Closer examination of the biochemical properties of the 38 kDa 'gecko' crystallin and comparison with other !axon-specific crystallins, especially the Ecrystallin of some other sauropsids, leads to the conclusion that this 38 kDa crystallin may be a so far undescribed novel type of crystallin