[Carnosine and anserine as specialized pH-buffers--hydrogen ion carriers]

Data are reviewed that carnosine (pK 6.9) and anserine (pK 7.1) act as specific mobile pH buffers promoting a rapid elimination of pH gradients between different parts of muscle fibers (very large cells containing various structural components, such as actomyosin, Z-discs, mitochondrial and sarcoplasmic reticulum, etc.). The specific role of these muscle dipeptides as pH buffers (H(+)-translocators) provides explanation for the so-called "Severin phenomenon"-a manyfold enhancement by carnosine of the ability of the isolated muscle to contract and accumulate lactate.