Non-enzymatic glycosylation of fibrous and basement membrane collagens.

Physical and biochemical techniques have clearly demonstrated that a second stage of reaction of the hexosyl-lysines initially formed on non-enzymatic glycosylation of collagen involves the formation of intermolecular crosslinking of the collagen molecules. We have identified an early product of this crosslinking reaction as a putative crosslink and its structure is currently being elucidated. Similar changes occurred with both the tightly packed fibrous collagen and the open network of the basement membrane collagen. The effect of these crosslinks on the optimal functioning of basement membrane is likely to be more dramatic than on fibrous collagen, particularly in regard to flexibility and permeability of capillaries.