Lens differentiation. Crystallin synthesis in isolated epithelia from calf lenses.

In the calf eye lens, four morphologically distinct cell types can be detected: three in the epithelial monolayer and one in the cortical part. During differentiation, there is a quantitative change in the synthesis of crystallin subunits. A marked increase in alphaA-chains and several beta-crystallin polypeptides accompanies the transition from epithelial to fiberlike lens cells while synthesis of the non-crystallin proteins diminishes significantly.