Protein and nucleotide deglycase that catalyzes the deglycation of the Maillard adducts formed between amino groups of proteins or nucleotides and reactive carbonyl groups of glyoxals. Thus, functions as a protein deglycase that repairs methylglyoxal- and glyoxal-glycated proteins, and releases repaired proteins and lactate or glycolate, respectively. Deglycates cysteine, arginine and lysine residues in proteins, and thus reactivates these proteins by reversing glycation by glyoxals. Acts on early glycation intermediates (hemithioacetals and aminocarbinols), preventing the formation of Schiff bases and advanced glycation endproducts (AGE). Also functions as a nucleotide deglycase able to repair glycated guanine in the free nucleotide pool (GTP, GDP, GMP, dGTP) and in DNA and RNA. Is thus involved in a major nucleotide repair system named guanine glycation repair (GG repair), dedicated to reversing methylglyoxal and glyoxal damage via nucleotide sanitization and direct nucleic acid repair. Plays an important role in protecting cells from carbonyl stress. H2O + N(omega)-(1-hydroxy-2-oxopropyl)-L-arginyl-[protein] = H(+) + L-arginyl-[protein] + lactate H2O + N(6)-(1-hydroxy-2-oxopropyl)-L-lysyl-[protein] = H(+) + L-lysyl-[protein] + lactate H2O + S-(1-hydroxy-2-oxopropyl)-L-cysteinyl-[protein] = H(+) + L-cysteinyl-[protein] + lactate H2O + N(omega)-(1-hydroxy-2-oxoethyl)-L-arginyl-[protein] = glycolate + H(+) + L-arginyl-[protein] H2O + N(6)-(1-hydroxy-2-oxoethyl)-L-lysyl-[protein] = glycolate + H(+) + L-lysyl-[protein] H2O + S-(1-hydroxy-2-oxoethyl)-L-cysteinyl-[protein] = glycolate + H(+) + L-cysteinyl-[protein] H2O + N(2)-(1-hydroxy-2-oxopropyl)-dGTP = dGTP + H(+) + lactate H2O + N(2)-(1-hydroxy-2-oxopropyl)-GTP = GTP + H(+) + lactate H2O + N(2)-(1-hydroxy-2-oxopropyl)-GDP = GDP + H(+) + lactate H2O + N(2)-(1-hydroxy-2-oxopropyl)-GMP = GMP + H(+) + lactate H2O + N(2)-(1-hydroxy-2-oxoethyl)-dGTP = dGTP + glycolate + H(+) H2O + N(2)-(1-hydroxy-2-oxoethyl)-GTP = glycolate + GTP + H(+) H2O + N(2)-(1-hydroxy-2-oxoethyl)-GDP = GDP + glycolate + H(+) H2O + N(2)-(1-hydroxy-2-oxoethyl)-GMP = glycolate + GMP + H(+) an N(2)-(1-hydroxy-2-oxopropyl)-guanosine in RNA + H2O = a guanosine in RNA + H(+) + lactate an N(2)-(1-hydroxy-2-oxopropyl)-2'-deoxyguanosine in DNA + H2O = a 2'-deoxyguanosine in DNA + H(+) + lactate an N(2)-(1-hydroxy-2-oxoethyl)-guanosine in RNA + H2O = a guanosine in RNA + glycolate + H(+) an N(2)-(1-hydroxy-2-oxoethyl)-2'-deoxyguanosine in DNA + H2O = a 2'-deoxyguanosine in DNA + glycolate + H(+) Belongs to the peptidase C56 family. HchA subfamily.