Carnosine, a protective, anti-ageing peptide?
Carnosine (beta-alanyl-L-histidine) has protective functions additional to anti-oxidant and free-radical scavenging roles. It extends cultured human fibroblast life-span, kills transformed cells, protects cells against aldehydes and an amyloid peptide fragment and inhibits, in vitro, protein glycation (formation of cross-links, carbonyl groups and AGEs) and DNA/protein cross-linking. Carnosine is an aldehyde scavenger, a likely lipofuscin (age pigment) precursor and possible modulator of diabetic complications, atherosclerosis and Alzheimer's disease.
Hipkiss
A R
AR
Molecular Biology and Biophysics Group, King's College London, Strand, UK.
D000375:Aging; D000818:Animals; D002336:Carnosine / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000737:chemistry / Q000502:physiology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D015394:Molecular Structure
D002336:Carnosine