An electrospray investigation on in vitro glycation of ribonuclease.

The in vitro reactions of RNase with different concentrations of glucose or fructose have been studied by means of electrospray mass spectrometry coupled with microcolumn high performance liquid chromatography. The results obtained have shown that, subsequent to the protein glycation, a series of cross-linking products are generated. Their molecular weights demonstrate that severe degradation processes of the proteic substrate takes place after the cross-linking process.