[Biological aspects of non-enzymatic glycosylation]

Non-enzymatic reactions commonly play an ambiguous role in living organism. It is well known that non-enzymatic glycosylation may lead to disruption of the structure and function of biomolecules, thus initiating the development and accompanying different diseases. On the other hand, under certain conditions the products of non-enzymatic glycosylation act as signaling molecules and play an important role in the immune response. Data concerning the influence of non-enzymatic glycosylation and carbonyl stress on living organisms are summarized in the work. The role of reactive carbonyl compounds and reducing carbohydrates in glycation of biomolecules, involvement of non-enzymatic glycosylation in carbonyl stress development and interplay between glycation and free radical processes in living organisms are summarized. The basic ways to prevent glycation and formation of reactive carbonyl compounds that induce carbonyl stress are highlighted. Special attention is paid to the role of the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae as a model system to study the glycation processes in vivo.