Cryab - crystallin, alpha B

This gene encodes a member of the small heat-shock protein (HSP20) family. The encoded protein is a molecular chaperone that protects proteins against thermal denaturation and other stresses. This protein is a component of the eye lens, regulates lens differentiation and functions as a refractive element in the lens. This protein is a negative regulator of inflammation, has anti-apoptotic properties and also plays a role in the formation of muscular tissue. Mice lacking this gene exhibit worse experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis and inflammation of the central nervous system compared to the wild type. In mouse models, this gene has a critical role in alleviating the pathology of the neurodegenerative Alexander disease. Mutations in the human gene are associated with myofibrillar myopathy 2, fatal infantile hypertonic myofibrillar myopathy, multiple types of cataract and dilated cardiomyopathy. Alternative splicing results in multiple transcript variants. [provided by RefSeq, Jan 2014]