Fig. 4.2. A. On the right side, an ascorbate molecule meets an oxygen molecule and passes on to it one
of its electrons. With this exchange, the oxygen molecule gains an electron and the ascorbate molecule
becomes a highly reactive free radical. On the left side, methylglyoxal lies in contact with the protein
molecule. At this stage methylglyoxal is a very weak acceptor unable to pull electrons from the protein
molecule. B. On the right side, the oxygen molecule moves on with its gained electron. On the left side,
the highly reactive ascorbate moves to lie against the methylglyoxal molecule. In this position it shares
and pulls electrons from methylglyoxal, which in turn pulls electrons from the protein molecule. This
sets off a chain reaction, electronically desaturating the protein molecule, making it very active and
conductive. C. Methylglyoxal and ascorbate are incorporated into the protein molecule; thus, the
protein is activated by incorporating into it the acceptor. (Reproduced, by permission, from Nutrition
Today, P. O. Box I829, Annapolis, Maryland 2.1404, September/October, 1979.)
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