A HIGHLY SPECIFIC METHOD FOR THE CHARACTERIZATION OF GLYCATION AND GLYCO-OXIDATION PRODUCTS OF GLOBINS

A new method, based on matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization (MA LDI) measurements, has been developed for the evaluation of the glycat ion level of globins, a relevant parameter for diabetes control, It sh ows high levels of reproducibility and specificity, allowing the diffe rent glycated and glyco-oxidized products of both alpha- and beta-glob ins to be distinguished, Such specificity is reflected in its possible diagnostic use not only for the control of diabetes, but also for the occurrence of oxidative stress', The comparison, for the same samples , of the obtained MALDI data with the related HbA(1c) values, determin ed by a high performance liquid chromatographic method, allowed it to be established that HbA(1c) percentages are not, as usually retained, related to the simply glycated beta-globin, but to the whole pool of g lycated and glyco-oxidized alpha- and beta-globins. (C) 1997 by John W iley & Sons, Ltd.