By using three isotopes of diisopropyl-phosphofluoridate ([(3)H]-, [(14)C]-, and [(32)P]DFP) simultaneously, the life span of red cells from 20 patients with sickle cell anemia (Hb SS) has been studied after varying degrees of carbamylation in vitro with cyanate (NCO) and carbamyl phosphate (CP). The results are expressed in terms of the red cell mean life span (MLS). The MLS of red cells in th...

Homeostatic regulation of the partial pressure of CO2 (PCO2) is vital for life. Sensing of pH has been proposed as a sufficient proxy for determination of PCO2 and direct CO2-sensing largely discounted. Here we show that connexin 26 (Cx26) hemichannels, causally linked to respiratory chemosensitivity, are directly modulated by CO2. A 'carbamylation motif', present in CO2-sensitive connexins (Cx...

The 3-fold increase in the carbamylation rate of Val-1 (cu) of hemoglobin upon deoxygenation described earlier is now shown to be a sensitive probe of conformational change. Thus, whereas this residue in methemoglobin A is carbamylated at the same rate as in liganded hemoglobin, upon addition of inositol hexaphosphate its carbamylation rate is enhanced 30% as much as the total change in the rat...

Ageing is a complex process that greatly influenced by environmental and genetic factors. at the cellular molecular level characterized accumulation of post-translationally modified proteins are derogative to cells, termed Degenerative protein modification (DPM). A particular class DPM, occurring under impact urea, brain ureido degenerative post-translational modifications (uDPM) has also been ...

The non-enzymatic carbamylation of low density lipoprotein (LDL) is a naturally occurring chemical modification of apolipoprotein B as a result of condensation between lysine residues and cyanate derived from urea. Carbamylated LDL is poorly recognized by LDL receptors and initiates different processes that can be considered proatherogenic. Thus, LDL carbamylation may contribute to the increase...

The non-enzymatic carbamylation of low density lipoprotein (LDL) is a naturally occurring chemical modification of apolipoprotein B as a result of condensation between lysine residues and cyanate derived from urea. Carbamylated LDL is poorly recognized by LDL receptors and initiates different processes that can be considered proatherogenic. Thus, LDL carbamylation may contribute to the increase...

Carbamylation is a non-enzymatic post-translational modification induced upon exposure of free amino groups to urea-derived cyanate leading to irreversible changes of protein charge, structure and function. Levels of carbamylated proteins increase significantly in chronic kidney disease and carbamylated albumin is considered as an important biomarker indicating mortality risk. High plasma conce...

Lysine carbamylation, a post-translational modification, facilitates metal coordination for specific enzymatic activities. We have determined structures of the vertebrate dihydropyrimidinase from Tetraodon nigroviridis (TnDhp) in various states: the apoenzyme as well as two forms of the holoenzyme with one and two metals at the catalytic site. The essential active-site structural requirements h...

Carbamylation is a general process involved in protein molecular ageing due to the nonenzymatic binding of isocyanic acid, mainly generated by urea dissociation, to free amino groups. In vitro experiments and clinical studies have suggested the potential involvement of carbamylated proteins (CPs) in chronic kidney disease (CKD) complications like atherosclerosis, but their metabolic fate in viv...

Aging is a progressive process determined by genetic and acquired factors. Among the latter are the chemical reactions referred to as nonenzymatic posttranslational modifications (NEPTMs), such as glycoxidation, which are responsible for protein molecular aging. Carbamylation is a more recently described NEPTM that is caused by the nonenzymatic binding of isocyanate derived from urea dissociati...