Kinetics of the glycation of bovine serum albumin by mannose and fucose in vitro.

Glycation of bovine serum albumin was measured for mannose and fucose at 37 degrees C. Mannose as well as fucose demonstrated an initial rapid increase in rate of formation of total adducts followed by a slower secondary reaction. The equilibrium constant for Schiff base formation was almost two times larger for mannose than fucose, although the Schiff base formed by fucose rearranged 1.5 times faster than that for mannose. Both sugars showed parallel lines for the formation of total and acid stable products after three hours. Discussion integrates new mechanistic data with previously suggested mechanisms.