D-ribose in glycation and protein aggregation

Background: D-ribose is a naturally occurring pentose monosaccharide present in all living cells and their microenvironments and is a key component of numerous biomolecules involved in many important metabolic pathways. It also participates in the glycation of proteins producing advanced glycation end products (AGEs) that lead to cell dysfunction and death. As recent studies show, ribosylation, a rapid process, causes protein aggregation in vitro and in vivo. Scope of review: This review summarizes the relationship between ribosylation, protein aggregation, cell death and cognitive impairments. Major conclusion: D-ribose is active in glycation and induces protein aggregation, rapidly producing AGEs in vitro and in vivo. General significance: Ribosylation, leading to the production of significant amounts of AGEs both extracellularly and intracellularly, may be involved in cell dysfunction and subsequent cognitive impairments. This review may be a useful reference for studies on the pharmacokinetics of D-ribose action. (C) 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.