In Vitro Correlates of Glycated Proteins Found in Diabetes Mellitus. (Biological Science Section).

Wing, B., J. Quinn (*), and K. Davidson (*). Biology Department, Drury University. IN VITRO CORRELATES OF GLYCATED PROTEINS FOUND IN DIABETES MELLITUS. Patients with diabetes mellitus often suffer from chronic complications such as blindness, kidney failure, amputations, and enhanced risk of arteriosclerosis. Studies on these complications have been linked to the cross linking of certain proteins with the elevated levels of glucose in the bloodstream. Formulation of glycated proteins has been detected in solutions simulating in vitro conditions. In our current study, solutions of 100mM alpha-crystalline, lysozyme, fibrinogen and thrombin were added to 100mM solutions of glucose. The protein solutions were incubated in a 37[degrees]C incubator to simulate physiological conditions, and a 65[degrees]C incubator to speed up the nonenzymatic reaction. A control solution of MOPS buffer and protein were used for each respective solution. In order to quantify the amount of glycation each week, the samples were tested on SDS-polyacrylamide gels. The lengths of the bands of alpha-crystalline, lysozyme and thrombin decreased in size by 56%, 69%, and 35% respectively, thus indicating that glycation was occurring. The results of fibrinogen were inadequate to yield any data.