Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 20, 2026
13:21
Chemically-blocked Antibody Microarray for Multiplexed High-throughput Profiling of Specific Protein Glycosylation in Complex Samples
Published on: May 4, 2012
Glycated proteins in diabetes.
P J Beisswenger1, B S Szwergold, K T Yeo
1Department of Medicine (Endocrinology), Dartmouth Medical School, Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center, Lebanon and Hanover, New Hampshire, USA.
Clinics in Laboratory Medicine
|April 27, 2001
Summary
Nonenzymatic glycation, a reaction between sugars and proteins, contributes to diabetic complications and aging. Measuring alpha-dicarbonyls and advanced glycation end-products (AGEs) may improve diabetes monitoring and complication prediction.
Area of Science:
- Biochemistry
- Gerontology
- Endocrinology
Background:
- Nonenzymatic glycation involves spontaneous reactions between reducing sugars and protein-bound amines.
- This process contributes to diabetic complications and age-related degenerative changes.
- Alpha-dicarbonyls are an additional source of glycation beyond monocarbonyl sugars.
Purpose of the Study:
- To highlight the role of nonenzymatic glycation and advanced glycation end-products (AGEs) in human health.
- To discuss the potential of measuring alpha-dicarbonyls and AGEs for improved diabetes management.
Main Methods:
- Review of existing literature on nonenzymatic glycation and AGE formation.
- Discussion of analytical methods for quantifying alpha-dicarbonyls and AGEs.
Main Results:
- Nonenzymatic glycation leads to the formation of irreversible advanced glycation end-products (AGEs).
- AGEs are implicated in the etiology of diabetic complications.
- Improved measurement techniques for alpha-dicarbonyls and AGEs are emerging.
Conclusions:
- Nonenzymatic glycation and AGEs are significant factors in diabetic complications and aging.
- Enhanced measurement of alpha-dicarbonyls and AGEs offers potential for future diabetes monitoring and complication prediction.
Related Concept Videos
01:05Proteoglycans
Glycans, a class of complex heterogeneous molecules, can be covalently attached to proteins to form glycosylated proteins that regulate various physiological and pathological processes. Glycosylated proteins or glycoproteins comprise N-linked and O-linked oligosaccharides. O-glycosylation is the most common type of protein glycosylation. Here, glycans attach to the oxygen atom of the hydroxyl groups of Serine or Threonine residues. O-linked glycosylation occurs later in protein processing,...
01:22Diabetes Mellitus: Type 2 and Gestational
Type 2 diabetes, characterized by insulin resistance, arises when the insulin receptors on cells lose responsiveness to insulin, diminishing the cell's capacity to take up glucose, resulting in elevated blood glucose levels. To receive a diagnosis of Type 2 diabetes, a series of blood glucose tests are necessary to assess whether the blood glucose falls within normal parameters. If the result is out of the normal range, a patient may be diagnosed as prediabetic or diabetic, depending on the...
01:20Pathophysiology of Diabetes
Diabetes mellitus is a chronic metabolic disorder characterized by hyperglycemia. The four categories of diabetes are type 1 diabetes, type 2 diabetes, other specific types of diabetes, and gestational diabetes.
Type 1 diabetes is characterized by autoimmune-mediated destruction of pancreatic β cells, with environmental factors potentially triggering this process in genetically susceptible individuals. Despite many not having a family history, certain genes increase susceptibility, suggesting a...
Type 1 diabetes is characterized by autoimmune-mediated destruction of pancreatic β cells, with environmental factors potentially triggering this process in genetically susceptible individuals. Despite many not having a family history, certain genes increase susceptibility, suggesting a...
01:19Type I Diabetes III: Clinical Manifestations
Type 1 diabetes mellitus typically presents with rapid-onset symptoms due to the body’s inability to utilize glucose in the absence of insulin. Since insulin is required for glucose uptake into cells, its deficiency leads to hyperglycemia and cellular energy deprivation, resulting in characteristic clinical features.Polyuria and PolydipsiaOne of the earliest, most prominent symptoms is polyuria (excessive urination). When blood glucose concentrations rise above the renal threshold, the kidneys...
01:25Type II Diabetes Mellitus III: Clinical Manifestations and Diagnosis
Type 2 diabetes mellitus develops gradually and is often asymptomatic in early stages.Clinical ManifestationsWhen symptoms appear, they include fatigue, blurred vision, pruritus, delayed wound healing, and recurrent infections, particularly candidal infections. Peripheral neuropathy may present as numbness or tingling in the extremities. Classic hyperglycemia symptoms—polyuria, polydipsia, and polyphagia—are less common. Most patients are overweight and frequently have associated hypertension...
01:29Hyperglycemia
Hyperglycemia is an abnormally high blood glucose level. It is diagnosed by fasting glucose ≥126 mg/dL, 2-hour oral glucose tolerance test (or OGTT) ≥200 mg/dL, random glucose ≥200 mg/dL with symptoms, or HbA1c ≥6.5%. However, HbA1c results may be unreliable in certain conditions, such as anemia or hemoglobinopathies, and the diagnosis should be confirmed unless classic symptoms are present. Postprandial hyperglycemia is typically considered significant when glucose levels exceed 180 mg/dL two...