Carnosine (β–alanyl histidine) is a small dipeptide with numerous beneficial effects, including the maintenance of the acid–base balance, antioxidant, chelating, anti–crosslinking, and anti–glycation activities in the living organism. High levels of carnosine are found in the skeletal muscles and in the brain. We have found that carnosine inhibits Zn2+–induced neuronal death, which plays acruci...

BACKGROUND Carnosine is a naturally present dipeptide abundant in skeletal muscle and an over-the counter food additive. Animal data suggest a role of carnosine supplementation in the prevention and treatment of obesity, insulin resistance, type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease but only limited human data exists. METHODS AND RESULTS Samples of vastus lateralis muscle were obtained by nee...

Aggregation of the amyloid-β peptide (Aβ) into fibrillar structures is a hallmark of Alzheimer's disease. Thus, preventing self-assembly of the Aβ peptide is an attractive therapeutic strategy. Here, we used experimental techniques and atomistic simulations to investigate the influence of carnosine, a dipeptide naturally occurring in the brain, on Aβ aggregation. Scanning force microscopy, circ...

The molecular mechanism of the participation of carnosine in the functioning of soluble guanylate cyclase is discussed. It is shown that carnosine inhibits the activation of soluble guanylate cyclase by sodium nitroprusside and a derivative of furoxan--1,2,5-oxadiazolo-trioxide (an NO donor). However, carnosine has no effect on stimulation of the enzyme by a structural analog of the latter comp...

The growth of crown-gall tumors on primary bean leaves (Phaseolus vulgaris L. cv. "Pinto") was promoted by the addition of d-lysopine, d-octopine, l-carnosine, or nopaline. Assayed on tumors induced by Agrobacterium tumefaciens strain B6, the relative activity was octopine = carnosine > lysopine >> nopaline; assayed on tumors induced by A. tumefaciens strain T-37, which induces tumors which for...

This study investigated the effects of Carnosine on protein aggregation in cataract lenses of the eye using an in vitro model. Carnosine is a dipeptide of histidine and betaalanine and has many powerful properties such as retarding cancer growth and preventing glycation. To simulate the protein aggregation in a cataract lens, Methylgloxal, a product known for causing advanced glycation endprodu...

Background ß-alanine has ergogenic potential based on its relationship with carnosine. Carnosine is rapidly degraded into ß-alanine and histidine as soon as it enters the blood. So there is no advantage to using direct carnosine supplementation. Previous studies have demonstrated that taking ß-alanine orally is effective at increasing intramuscular carnosine levels. The resistance training athl...

Carnosine is a neuroprotective dipeptide consisting of beta-alanine and L-histidine. It demonstrates a number of useful features, including stimulation of brain and muscle microcirculation and a rejuvenating effect on cultured cells. Its activity is based on its antioxidant and antiglycating action that, in addition to heavy metal chelation and pH-buffering ability, makes carnosine an essential...

PURPOSE Alpha-crystallin, a major structural protein in the lens, prevents heat- and oxidative stress-induced aggregation of proteins and inactivation of enzymes by acting as a molecular chaperone. Modification of alpha-crystallin by some posttranslational modifications results in conformational changes and decreases in chaperone activity, which may contribute to cataractogenesis in vivo. Carno...

Breakdown of lipid peroxides results in the formation of aldehydic compounds which are toxic to biological systems and deleterious to food quality. To determine the potential of skeletal muscle compounds to protect biomolecules from lipid oxidation products, the ability of carnosine and various other related compounds to quench monounsaturated and polyunsaturated aldehydes was investigated. Car...