| 摘要 |
<p>The present invention is directed to a novel imidazo [4,5b] pyridinium molecule composed of a lysine and an arginine residue crosslinked with a pentose sugar. The novel imidazo [4,5b] pyridinium compound, referred to as 'pentosidine', was isolated from proteineous tissue undergoing advanced glycosylation and is believed to be one of the principal products involved in the aging of proteins. Assaying for the pentosidine molecule makes it possible to assess the degree of non-enzymatic glycosylation occurring. In addition, the pentosidine molecule is utilized through the production of antibodies thereto and/or the preparation of test kits, etc., for diagnostic, as well as therapeutic purposes (i.e. development of agents which inhibit the non-enzymatic browning reaction, etc.). For example, the invention further relates to a process for assessing aging in mammals by quantitating the amount of pentosidine present in tissue produced by glycoxidation.</p> |
