Glycated proteins: Clinical utility and analytical approaches

The binding of glucose to serum proteins in a non-enzymatic reaction occurs proportionately to the prevailing serum glucose concentration during the lifespan of each protein. The non-enzymatic reaction of proteins with reducing sugars results in the formation of glycated proteins that are indicative of the relative amount of reducing sugars present. Hemoglobin, albumin, lipoproteins and other tissue proteins can be non-enzymatically glycated. Hence, estimation of these glycated proteins can be used for the estimation of average glycemic status. Spectrophotometric, chromatographic and immunoassays techniques are used for the detection and quantitation of these glycated proteins.   Key words: Glycated protein, reducing sugars, detection, quantitation.