Non enzymatic glycosylation increases platelet aggregating potency of collagen from placenta of diabetic human beings.

Pepsin extracted collagen and an acid soluble glycoprotein were purified from placentas of normal and diabetic human beings. Diabetic samples exhibit a significant increase in ketoamine-linked glucose whereas both amino acid and carbohydrate composition were unaffected. This excess non enzymatic condensation of glucose on free amino-groups was found to increase platelet aggregating potency of these proteins independently of any modification in fiber morphology.