Boldyrev A A, Koldobski A, Kurella E, Maltseva V, Stvolinski S
Department of Biochemistry, Moscow State University, Russia.
Mol Chem Neuropathol. 1993 May-Jun;19(1-2):185-92. doi: 10.1007/BF03160178.
A review on the distribution and biological effects of carnosine and a hypothesis for its biological mechanisms of action are presented. Carnosine and its structural and functional relative, anserine, were found in skeletal muscles at the beginning of the century. Their effects on muscle-working capacity, on the stability of membrane-bound enzymes, as well as their potent immunomodulating property, could not be explained by their pH-buffering capacity or formation of the secondary metabolites histidine and beta-alanine alone. This article suggests that the basis for the biological activities of carnosine and relative compounds is their potent antioxidant and membrane-protecting activity. The plausible chemical mechanism of this activity is discussed, and data regarding the usage of carnosine as a drug for treatment of immunodeficiency are summarized.
本文对肌肽的分布和生物学效应进行了综述，并提出了其生物学作用机制的假说。肌肽及其结构和功能相关物鹅肌肽于本世纪初在骨骼肌中被发现。它们对肌肉工作能力、膜结合酶稳定性的影响，以及其强大的免疫调节特性，不能仅用其pH缓冲能力或仅由其形成的次生代谢产物组氨酸和β-丙氨酸来解释。本文认为，肌肽及相关化合物生物学活性的基础是其强大的抗氧化和膜保护活性。文中讨论了这种活性可能的化学机制，并总结了有关将肌肽用作治疗免疫缺陷药物的数据。
