beta-Alanyl-L-histidine, 98%

Substrate for carnosinase in carnosinase assay. Liberated L-histidine is quantified by reaction with OPA to produce a fluorescent product, which is directly proportional to serum carnosinase activity. Carnosinase deficiency has been associated with neurologic deficits, and decreased concentrations have been observed in patients with Parkinson disease or multiple sclerosis and in patients after a cerebrovascular accident. It is believed that carnosine has the ability to protect neuronal cells against ischemic injury and oxidative stress as well as to increase their resistance toward functional exhaustion and accumulation of senile features L-Carosine is a dipeptide found at millimolar concentration in brain, muscle and the lens of the eye. In model systems it is a potent antioxidant that scavenges oxygen free radicals and transition metal ions. It blocks protein-protein and protein-DNA cross-links induced by hypochlorite anions and toxic aldehydes such as acetaldehyde, formaldehyde, and malondialdehyde, the primary product of lipid peroxidation. It also inhibits nonenzymatic protein glycation induced by aldose and ketose reducing sugars and inhibits the formation of toxic advanced glycation end products (AGE). These activities make it of interest in studies of aging, atherosclerosis, Alzheimer's disease, and the secondary effects of diabetes. Dipeptide with potent antioxidant and antiglycation activity; blocks nonenzymatic glycosylation and protein cross-linking induced by reactive aldehydes. 1. Bando K., Shimotsuji T., Toyoshima H., Hayashi C., Miyai K., Fluorometric assay of human serum carnosinase activity in normal children, adults and patients with myopathy. Ann. Clin. Biochem. 1984, 21, 510-4. 2. Burgess E.A., Oberholzer V.G., Palmer T., Levin B., Plasma carnosinase deficiency in patients with urea cycle defects. Clin. Chim. Acta 1975, 61, 215-18. 3. Guiotto A., Calderan A., Ruzza P., Borin G., Carnosine and carnosine-related antioxidants: a review. Curr. Med. Chem. 2005, 12, 2293-315. 4. Murphey W.H., Patchen L., Lindmark D.G., Carnosinase: a fluorometric assay and demonstration of two electrophoretic forms in human tissue extracts. Clin. Chim. Acta. 1972, 42, 309-14. 5. Orfanos A.P., Guthrie R., Jinks D.C., A fluorometric micromethod for estimation of carnosinase in dried blood samples. Clin. Chim. Acta 1987, 166, 219-25. 6. Schoen P., Everts H., de Boer T., van Oeveren W., Serum carnosinase activity in plasma and serum: validation of a method and values in cardiopulmonary bypass surgery. Clin. Chem. 2003, 49, 1930-2.