Related Experiment Video
Updated: Feb 6, 2026
05:28
Author Spotlight: Unveiling the Molecular Basis of Pain Perception and Neuropathic Pain
Published on: August 9, 2024
1.7K
Ascorbic acid leads to glycation and interferes with neurite outgrowth
Jonas Scheffler1, Kaya Bork1, Veronika Bezold1
1Institut für Physiologische Chemie, Martin-Luther-Universität Halle-Wittenberg, Hollystr. 1, D-06114 Halle/Saale, Germany.
Experimental Gerontology
|August 28, 2018
Summary
Vitamin C (ascorbic acid) and its oxidized form, dehydroascorbic acid, can cause protein glycation. Ascorbic acid more significantly impacts cell viability and neurite outgrowth in neuronal models.
Area of Science:
- Biochemistry
- Cell Biology
- Neuroscience
Background:
- Ascorbic acid (vitamin C) is a vital reducing carbohydrate essential for human physiological functions.
- Its key role involves electron donation, maintaining redox balance, and acting as a cofactor in enzymatic hydroxylation.
- Oxidation of ascorbic acid yields semidehydroascorbic acid and dehydroascorbic acid, which can degrade into reactive carbonyl intermediates.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the impact of ascorbic acid and dehydroascorbic acid-induced protein glycation.
- To examine these effects using PC12 cells as a model for neuronal plasticity.
Main Methods:
- Treatment of PC12 cells with ascorbic acid and dehydroascorbic acid.
- Assessment of cellular protein glycation.
- Evaluation of cell viability and neurite outgrowth.
Main Results:
- Both ascorbic acid and dehydroascorbic acid induced glycation of cellular proteins.
- Ascorbic acid demonstrated a more pronounced negative effect on PC12 cell viability compared to dehydroascorbic acid.
- Ascorbic acid also showed a greater interference with neurite outgrowth than dehydroascorbic acid.
Conclusions:
- Protein glycation by both ascorbic acid and dehydroascorbic acid occurs in neuronal models.
- Ascorbic acid poses a greater risk to neuronal viability and plasticity due to its more significant impact on these cellular processes.
Related Concept Videos
03:38Polyprotic Acids
32.1K
Acids are classified by the number of protons per molecule that they can give up in a reaction. Acids such as HCl, HNO3, and HCN that contain one ionizable hydrogen atom in each molecule are called monoprotic acids. Their reactions with water are:
32.1K
02:18Interference and Diffraction
52.5K
Interference is a characteristic phenomenon exhibited by waves. When two electromagnetic waves interact with their peaks and troughs coinciding, a resulting wave with enhanced amplitude is produced. This is known as constructive interference. In this case, the two waves interacting are in phase with each other.
52.5K
01:23RNA Interference
28.1K
RNA interference (RNAi) is a process in which a small non-coding RNA molecule blocks the post-transcriptional expression of a gene by binding to its messenger RNA (mRNA) and preventing the protein from being translated.
This process occurs naturally in cells, often through the activity of genomically-encoded microRNAs. Researchers can take advantage of this mechanism by introducing synthetic RNAs to deactivate specific genes for research or therapeutic purposes. For example, RNAi could be used...
This process occurs naturally in cells, often through the activity of genomically-encoded microRNAs. Researchers can take advantage of this mechanism by introducing synthetic RNAs to deactivate specific genes for research or therapeutic purposes. For example, RNAi could be used...
28.1K
01:16Interference and Decay
476
Forgetting is a complex cognitive phenomenon influenced by several factors, among which interference and decay are particularly prominent. These processes explain why individuals often struggle to retrieve specific information from memory, leading to lapses in recall that can be observed in everyday situations.
Interference occurs when competing memories hinder the retrieval of particular information. It can be classified into two types: proactive and retroactive interference. Proactive...
Interference occurs when competing memories hinder the retrieval of particular information. It can be classified into two types: proactive and retroactive interference. Proactive...
476
01:22Phase-lead and Phase-lag Controllers
552
Understanding the working function of different types of controllers can be illustrated with practical analogies, such as adjusting a stereo's volume equalizer. Cranking up the bass involves a phase-lead controller, which functions as a high-pass filter, while increasing the treble uses a phase-lag controller, which acts as a low-pass filter. PD controllers, similar to high-pass filters, enhance the system's response to high-frequency components. PI controllers, akin to low-pass...
552
00:53Sound Waves: Interference
4.8K
Sound waves can be modeled either as longitudinal waves, wherein the molecules of the medium oscillate around an equilibrium position, or as pressure waves. When two identical waves from the same source superimpose on each other, the combination of two crests or two troughs results in amplitude reinforcement known as constructive interference. If two identical waves, that are initially in phase, become out of phase because of different path lengths, the combination of crests with troughs...
4.8K