Figure 8. ERK and Akt protein and phosphorylation levels

Water-soluble proteins from newborn lenses were used for western blotting to detect ERK, phosphorylated ERK (pERK), Akt, and phosphorylated Akt (pAkt). The pERK levels (both pERK1 and pERK2) are increased 2-3 fold in the transgenic lenses while the ERK protein levels remain the same as that in the WT lenses. No change in Akt or pAkt levels were detected. The analysis was repeated on three independent samples and the results were consistent. β-Actin was used as a control for protein loading.