| Abstract: | Depolymerization of hyaluronic acid (HA) by low-molecular-weight Amadori-rearrangement products in the presence of Cu2 + was studied as an in vitro model for the glycated protein-mediated degradation of biopolymers. This oxygen radical-mediated depolymerization was found to be specifically accelerated by Cu2 + , and significantly inhibited by catalase, hydroxyl radical scavengers, and metal ion chelators. Glycated polylysine also depolymerized HA. The difference in depolymerization rate between low- and high-molecular-weight Amadori products is discussed. |
