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Review
. 2014 Jan 21:2014:417842.
doi: 10.1155/2014/417842. eCollection 2014.

Reactive carbonyl species in vivo: generation and dual biological effects

Halyna M Semchyshyn  1
Affiliations
Review

Reactive carbonyl species in vivo: generation and dual biological effects

Halyna M Semchyshyn. ScientificWorldJournal. .

Abstract

Reactive carbonyls are widespread species in living organisms and mainly known for their damaging effects. The most abundant reactive carbonyl species (RCS) are derived from oxidation of carbohydrates, lipids, and amino acids. Chemical modification of proteins, nucleic acids, and aminophospholipids by RCS results in cytotoxicity and mutagenicity. In addition to their direct toxicity, modification of biomolecules by RCS gives rise to a multitude of adducts and cross links that are increasingly implicated in aging and pathology of a wide range of human diseases. Understanding of the relationship between metabolism of RCS and the development of pathological disorders and diseases may help to develop effective approaches to prevent a number of disorders and diseases. On the other hand, constant persistence of RCS in cells suggests that they perform some useful role in living organisms. The most beneficial effects of RCS are their establishment as regulators of cell signal transduction and gene expression. Since RCS can modulate different biological processes, new tools are required to decipher the precise mechanisms underlying dual effects of RCS.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
The structures of most common biological reactive carbonyl species.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Formation of methylglyoxal as a by product of glycolysis.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Polyol pathway as a source of formation of reactive carbonyl species.
Figure 4
Figure 4
The structures of most common biological advanced lipoxidation and glycation end products.
Figure 5
Figure 5
Involvement of reactive carbonyl species in signaling/transcription regulation.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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