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Protein Crosslinking pp 579–602Cite as

Some Therapeutic Implications of the Crosslinkage Theory of Aging

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Part of the book series: Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology ((AEMB,volume 86))

Abstract

The concept of crosslinkages as the base for aging was suggested by Bjorksten (1941), who in 1942 expressed this theory as follows: “The aging of living organisms I believe is due to the occasional formation by tanning, of bridges between protein molecules, which cannot be broken by the cell enzymes. Such irreparable tanning may be caused by tanning agents foreign to the organism or formed by unusual biological side reactions, or it may be due to the formation of a tanning bridge in some particular position in the protein molecule. In either event, the result is that cumulative tanning of body proteins which we know as old age.” If we add the words “and nucleic acids” to “proteins” this still covers the tenets of the crosslinking theory.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Bjorksten Research Foundation, Madison, Wisconsin, 53715, USA

    Johan Bjorksten

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  1. Johan Bjorksten
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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Western Regional Research Laboratory, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, Berkeley, California, USA

    Mendel Friedman

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Bjorksten, J. (1977). Some Therapeutic Implications of the Crosslinkage Theory of Aging. In: Friedman, M. (eds) Protein Crosslinking. Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology, vol 86. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4757-9113-6_33

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