Dr. Horwitz is investigating primarily the biochemical and biophysical properties of normal and cataractous lens proteins. In his laboratory, techniques have been developed for the microdissection of single human cataractous lenses and for separating, with the aid of a microscope, opaque areas and adjacent normal areas. The cataractous and normal lens sections then are studied with the aid of a high performance liquid chromatography system. This work should provide valuable information about the lens proteins, and should contribute directly to under standing the processes involved in the development of cataract. In addition Dr. Horwitz is investigating the molecular chaperone properties of the eye lens alpha-crystallin.