• Korean Journal of Microbiology
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.302-308
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• 1985

It is shown by means of nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy that 3,4,5-trihydroxy-2-keto-L-valeraldehyde (L-xylosone), an ${\alpha}$-ketoaldehyde, is formed during the oxidative catabolism of L-ascorbic acid. It is proposed that this substance serves as a substrate for the glyoxalase system by which it is transformed to L-xylonic acid. As L-xylonic acid is further oxidized to L-erythroascorbic acid, a biochemical pathway is proposed for the action of vitamin C which consists of two further ${\gamma}$-lactones and three different substrates of the glyoxalase system.

• Proceedings of the Korean Biophysical Society Conference
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• 1997.07a
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• pp.36-36
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• 1997

Protein glycation was studied with bovine serum albumin (BSA) as a model protein and methylglyoxal, a 3-carbon ${\alpha}$-ketoaldehyde. Methylglyoxal reacted with BSA, forming a radical as observed in the reaction of methylglyoxal wtih L-alanine or N-acetyl-L-lysine.(omitted)

• Proceedings of the Korean Biophysical Society Conference
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• 1996.07a
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• pp.46-46
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• 1996

To elucidate the mechanism for the cross-linking reaction in the glycation or Maillard reaction, we studied the reaction between proteins, and a three-carbon ${\alpha}$-ketoaldehyde, methylglyoxal. When Cu, Zn-SOD was incubated with 200 mM of methylglyoxal, the peroxidase activity as well as the superoxide dismutase activity was reduced. This reduction is accompanied by the decrease of the anion binding affinity of the enzyme. (omitted)

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.3 no.3
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• pp.251-261
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• 1999

The effects of carnosine and related compounds (CRCs) including anserine, homocarnosine, histidine, and ${\beta}-alanine$ on monosaccharide autoxidation and $H_2O_2$ formation were investigated. The incubation of CRCs with D-glucose, D-glucosamine, and D, L-glyceraldehyde at $37^{\circ}C$ increased the absorption maxima at 285 nm, 273 nm, and $290{\sim}330$ nm, respectively. D, L-glyceraldehyde was the most reactive sugar with CRCs. The presence of copper strongly stimulated the reaction of carnosine and anserine with D-glucose or D-glucosamine. Carnosine and anserine stimulated $H_2O_2$ formation from D-glucose autoxidation in a dose-dependent manner in the presence of 10 ${\mu}M$ Cu (II). The presence of human serum albumin (HSA) decreased their effect on $H_2O_2$ formation. Carnosine and anserine has a biphasic effect on ${\alpha}-ketoaldehyde$ formation from glucose autoxidation. CRCs inhibited glycation of HSA as determined by hydroxymethyl furfural, lysine residue with free ${\varepsilon}-amino$ group, and fructosamine assay. These results suggest that CRCs may be protective against diabetic complications by reacting with sugars and protecting glycation of protein.

• BMB Reports
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• v.32 no.4
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• pp.370-378
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• 1999

The effects of carnosine and related compounds (CRC) including anserine, homocarnosine, histidine, and ${\beta}$-alanine, found in most mammalian tissues, were investigated on in vitro glucose oxidation and glycation of human serum albumin (HSA). Carnosin and anserine were more reactive with D-glucose than with L-lysine. In the presence of $10\;{\mu}M$ Cu (II), although carnosine and anserine at low concentrations effectively inhibited formation of ${\alpha}$-ketoaldehyde from D-glucose, they increased generation of $H_2O_2$ in a dose-dependent manner. Carnosine, homocarnosine, anserine, and histidine effectively inhibited hydroxylation of salicylate and deoxyribose degradation in the presence of glucose and $10\;{\mu}M$ Cu (II). In the presence of 25 mM D-glucose, copper and ascorbic acid stimulated carbonyl formation from HSA. Except for ${\beta}$-alanine, CRC effectively inhibited the copper-catalyzed carbonyl formation from HSA. The addition of 25 mM D-glucose and/or $10\;{\mu}M$ Cu (II) to low density lipoprotein (LDL) increased formation of conjugated dienes. CRC effectively inhibited the glucose and/or copper-catalyzed LDL oxidation. CRC also inhibited glycation of HSA as determined by hydroxymethyl furfural and lysine with free ${\varepsilon}$-amino group. These results suggest that CRC may play an important role in protecting against diabetic complications by reacting with sugars, chelating copper, and scavenging free radicals.

• Journal of Microbiology
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• v.34 no.2
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• pp.192-197
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• 1996

L-Xylosone was detected as its quinoxaline derivative in the degradation solution of dehydro-L-ascorbic acid. The production rate of L-xylosone was much faster in aerated phosphate-cirate buffer (pH 5. 6) than in pure water. L-Xylosone and dehydro-L-ascorbic acid were identified in the crude extracts of Saccharomyces cerevisiae. The concentration of L-xylosone in the crude cell extracts was calculated to be about 0.2 nmol $(mg protein)^{-1}$. When L-xylosone was added to asynchronous culture of S. cerevisiae, it inhibited primarily the synthesis of protein and RNA. Examination of the effect of L- xylosone on synchronous culture of the yeast indicated that L-xylosone inhibited the initiation of DNA replication and that the cells were arrested at $G_1$, stage of cell division cycle. These results suggested a possibility that L-xylosone can act as an inhibitor of cell growth.