Theoretical studies on models of lysine-arginine cross-links derived from α-oxoaldehydes: a new mechanism for glucosepane formation

J Mol Model. 2012 Apr;18(4):1645-59. doi: 10.1007/s00894-011-1161-x. Epub 2011 Aug 3.

Abstract

Availability and high reactivity of α-oxoaldehydes have been approved by experimental techniques not only in vivo systems but also in foodstuffs. In this article we re-examine the mechanism of glucosepane formation by using computational model chemistry. Density functional theory has been applied to propose a new mechanism for glucosepane formation through reaction of α-oxoaldehydes with methyl amine (MA) and methyl guanidine (MGU) models of lysine and arginine residues respectively. This non enzymatic process can be described in three main steps: (1) Schiff base formation from methyl amine, methyl glyoxal (MGO) (2) addition of methyl guanidine and (3) addition of glyceraldehyde. We show that this process is thermodynamically possible and presents a rate-determining step with a reasonable free energy barrier equal to 37.8 kcal mol(-1) in water solvent. Comparisons were done with the mechanism formation of GODIC (glyoxal-derived imidazolium cross-link) and MODIC (methyl glyoxal-derived imidazolium cross-link), two other important cross-links in vivo.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Aldehydes / chemistry*
  • Arginine / chemistry*
  • Cross-Linking Reagents / chemistry
  • Glycation End Products, Advanced / chemistry*
  • Ketoses / chemistry*
  • Lysine / chemistry*
  • Maillard Reaction
  • Methylamines / chemistry
  • Methylguanidine / chemistry
  • Models, Molecular
  • Models, Theoretical
  • Proteins / chemistry
  • Thermodynamics

Substances

  • Aldehydes
  • Cross-Linking Reagents
  • Glycation End Products, Advanced
  • Ketoses
  • Methylamines
  • Proteins
  • Methylguanidine
  • glucosepane
  • Arginine
  • Lysine