Function and metabolism of a histidine-containing dipeptide, carnosine, in mammals

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Carnosine is a histidine-containing dipeptides present at high concentrations in mammalian skeletal muscles and the brain. It has been proposed that they have a variety of biological functions including anti-oxidant, pH-buffering and nutritional activities. Recently, we and other groups have identified the enzymes responsible for carnosine synthesis and degradation, but the function of these enzymes are still to be investigated. In this study, in order to clarify the functional roles of these enzymes, we have analyzed the enzymatic characteristics and cellular distribution of these enzymes, especially focusing on a carnosine-degrading enzyme, carnosine dipeptidase II (CN2).