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. 1985 Dec;64:297–307. doi: 10.1289/ehp.8564297

Monosaccharide autoxidation in health and disease.

P J Thornalley
PMCID: PMC1568594  PMID: 3007096

Abstract

The reduction of oxygen by the ene-diol tautomer of simple monosaccharides produces hydrogen peroxide and alpha-oxoaldehydes. This process, termed monosaccharide autoxidation, occurs at physiological pH and temperature and may contribute to the development of several pathological processes. Enolization of the monosaccharide to an ene-diol tautomer is a prerequisite for the reaction of the monosaccharides with oxygen. The reaction kinetics suggest a two step process: the enolization of the monosaccharide to the ene-diol followed by the reaction of the ene-diol with oxygen. Free-radical reactive intermediates are formed by the reaction of the ene-diol with oxygen: superoxide, semidione, and 1-hydroxyalkyl radicals are formed under physiological conditions (hydroxyl radicals are also detected at high pH). The autoxidation of monosaccharides stimulates the oxidation of oxyhemoglobin in erythrocytes, producing methemoglobin and hydrogen peroxide, and the oxidation of reduced pyridine nucleotides NAD(P)H to the oxidized congener NAD(P)+ and enzymatically inactive nucleotide. This stimulates oxidative metabolism (via the hexose monophosphate shunt) and alpha-oxoaldehyde metabolism (via the glyoxalase system) in erythrocytes in vitro. The oxidative challenge is relatively mild even with very high concentrations (50 mM) of monosaccharide. However, crosslinking of membrane proteins by alpha-oxoaldehydes is enhanced; this effect may exacerbate ageing and decrease the lifetime of erythrocytes in circulation. In vivo, the autoxidation of monosaccharides is expected to be a chronic oxidative process occurring in biological tissue which utilises simple monosaccharides, e.g., in glycolysis and gluconeogenesis. Monosaccharide autoxidation is suggested to be a determinant in the control of cellular mitosis and ageing, providing physiological substrates for the glyoxalase system, and may contribute to the chronic disease processes associated with diabetes mellitus and the smoking of tobacco.

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Selected References

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