Journal of mass spectrometry : JMS
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Glycation of proteins by glucose and formation of end-stage adducts (AGEs, advanced glycation end products) has been implicated in pathological mechanisms associated with diabetic complications, macrovascular disease, chronic and renal insufficiency, Alzheimer's disease, and aging. Of the carbonyl containing compounds involved in this process, alpha-dicarbonyls have particular importance, being established as direct intermediates in the formation of well-known AGEs. The guanidino group, present in arginine residues, suffers direct modifications by sugars and its derivatives, and is considered to be an important chemical basis, targeting the control and inhibition of glycation. ⋯ Moreover, the referred amine-dicarbonyl moieties are formed via (dihydroxyimidazolidine - 2H2O) moieties. The latter (dihydroxyimidazolidine - 2H2O) moieties are formed in high amounts in the larger alkyl-diketonic dicarbonyl reactions. Since these moieties react with dicarbonyl molecules, and react even faster with already modified amine functions, we can foresee that these species may be useful for controlling and inhibiting glycation of larger biomolecules, such as proteins.