Effect of different chemical agents on the formation of Nε-carboxymethyl-lysine using glyoxylic acid a universal metabolite associated with the development and progression of diabetes

Abstract

This study focuses on different metal ions and thiols potentially affecting the formation of Nε-carboxymethyl- lysine (CML), when using glyoxylic acid as glycation agent and Z-Lys-OH or human serum albumin as glycation targets. It was confirmed by chromatographic analysis that Z-CML was generated in all mixtures and that thiols acted as the reaction inhibitors in the following order: HCys> LCys> GSH> ACys. The inhibitory effect was also detected in the presence of Zn(II), whereas for Cu(II) results were inconclusive. When Acys or GSH and Zn(II) were added simultaneously, the decrease of CML formation was more pronounced as compared to the inhibitory effects observed separately for each compound. The results obtained suggest a novel mechanism of thiols action within the context of Advanced Glycation end-product (AGEs) formation.