Fig. 3. Age-dependent aggregate and cataract formation. (A) Immunoblot analysis of endogenous and transgene vimentin in extracts of lenses from 4-month-old wt and VimR₁₁₃C mice. Endogenous and transgenic vimentin was detected using a vimentin antibody. Owing to the Mycepitope present in the mutated vimentin, it migrates slower than endogenous vimentin. (B-E) Immunofluorescence analysis of lenses. Cryosections of newborn and 5-month-old animals were stained for total (green) and Myc-tagged vimentin (red). (B,D) Vimentin expression and localisation in the wt. (C,E) Vimentin expression in VimR₁₁₃C mice. In newborn mice, the distribution of VimR₁₁₃C protein is similar to wt vimentin but less homogenous. (E) Aggregate formation in fibre cells of adult animals. Note the high number and large size of vimentin aggregates in lenses from adult compared with those from new born animals (C',C",E',E"). Bar: 20 µm.