THE ROLE OF ADVANCED GLYCATION END PRODUCTS IN DISEASES

Abstract

Glycation is the nonenzymatic addition of a sugar residue to amino groups of proteins. It proceeds from reversible schiff bases to stable Amadori products that undergo further modification to produce a diverse group of protein-bound moieties called advanced glycation end­ products (AGEs).

AGEs include N-carboxymethyl-lysine (CML), pentosidine, pyrraline, crosslines and imidazolones. They are present in the plasma and accumulate in tissues during aging and at an accelerated rate in diabetes and end-stage renal disease (ESRD).

Carboxymethyl-lysine (CML), carboxymethyl- hydroxylysine (CMhL) and pentosidine are termed glycoxidation products because both glycation and oxidation reactions are required for their formation from