Is Glycosylation the Same as Glycation?

Glycation is a non-enzymatic reaction, irreversible and concentration-dependent, in which glucose or other carbohydrates are added onto proteins, lipids or DNA. ... Glycosylation, on the other hand, is a post-translational process in which the addition of carbohydrates to proteins or lipids is catalysed by enzymes.

What is glycosylation and glycation?

Glycation refers to the bonding of a sugar molecule to a protein or lipid molecule without enzymatic regulation while glycosylation refers to the controlled enzymatic modification of an organic molecule, especially a protein, by addition of a sugar molecule.

What is the difference between glycosylation and glycation and why is this distinction important to make when considering measuring glycated hemoglobin Hb as a means of measuring blood glucose levels over time?

The term glycosylation is mainly used to describe the enzyme catalysed process and glycation non enzymatic one. Glycation is a form of protein damage as glycated proteins have reduced functionality. Glycosylation on the other hand is important for proteins to become functional.