Contents

Methylglyoxal

Methylglyoxal

Names
Preferred IUPAC name 2-Oxopropanal
Other names Pyruvaldehyde
Identifiers
CAS Number	78-98-8 Y 1186-47-6 (hydrate) N
3D model (JSmol)	Interactive image
3DMet	B00127
Beilstein Reference	906750
ChEBI	CHEBI:17158 Y
ChEMBL	ChEMBL170721 Y
ChemSpider	857 Y
DrugBank	DB03587 Y
ECHA InfoCard	100.001.059
IUPHAR/BPS	6303
KEGG	C00546 Y
MeSH	Methylglyoxal
PubChem CID	880
UNII	722KLD7415 Y
CompTox Dashboard (EPA)	DTXSID0021628
InChI InChI=1S/C3H4O2/c1-3(5)2-4/h2H,1H3 Y Key: AIJULSRZWUXGPQ-UHFFFAOYSA-N Y InChI=1/C3H4O2/c1-3(5)2-4/h2H,1H3 Key: AIJULSRZWUXGPQ-UHFFFAOYAZ
SMILES CC(=O)C=O
Properties
Chemical formula	C3H4O2
Molar mass	72.063 g·mol−1
Appearance	Yellow liquid
Density	1.046 g/cm3
Melting point	25 °C (77 °F; 298 K)
Boiling point	72 °C (162 °F; 345 K)
Hazards
GHS labelling:
Pictograms
Signal word	Danger
Hazard statements	H290, H302, H315, H317, H318, H319, H335, H341
Precautionary statements	P201, P202, P234, P261, P264, P270, P271, P272, P280, P281, P301+P312, P302+P352, P304+P340, P305+P351+P338, P308+P313, P310, P312, P321, P330, P332+P313, P333+P313, P337+P313, P362, P363, P390, P403+P233, P404, P405, P501
Related compounds
Related ketones, aldehydes	Glyoxal Propionaldehyde Propanedial Acetone Diacetyl Acetylacetone
Related compounds	Glyoxylic acid Pyruvic acid Acetoacetic acid
Except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C [77 °F], 100 kPa). N verify (what is YN ?) Infobox references

Chemical compound

Methylglyoxal (MGO) is the organic compound with the formula CH₃C(O)CHO. It is a reduced derivative of pyruvic acid. It is a reactive compound that is implicated in the biology of diabetes. Methylglyoxal is produced industrially by degradation of carbohydrates using overexpressed methylglyoxal synthase.^[1]

Chemical structure[edit]

Gaseous methylglyoxal has two carbonyl groups, an aldehyde and a ketone. In the presence of water, it exists as hydrates and oligomers. The formation of these hydrates is indicative of the high reactivity of MGO, which is relevant to its biological behavior.^[2]

Biochemistry[edit]

Biosynthesis and biodegradation[edit]

In organisms, methylglyoxal is formed as a side-product of several metabolic pathways.^[3] Methylglyoxal mainly arises as side products of glycolysis involving glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate and dihydroxyacetone phosphate. It is also thought to arise via the degradation of acetone and threonine.^[4] Illustrative of the myriad pathways to MGO, aristolochic acid caused 12-fold increase of methylglyoxal from 18 to 231 μg/mg of kidney protein in poisoned mice.^[5] It may form from 3-aminoacetone, which is an intermediate of threonine catabolism, as well as through lipid peroxidation. However, the most important source is glycolysis. Here, methylglyoxal arises from nonenzymatic phosphate elimination from glyceraldehyde phosphate and dihydroxyacetone phosphate (DHAP), two intermediates of glycolysis. This conversion is the basis of a potential biotechnological route to the commodity chemical 1,2-propanediol.^[6]

Since methylglyoxal is highly cytotoxic, several detoxification mechanisms have evolved. One of these is the glyoxalase system. Methylglyoxal is detoxified by glutathione. Glutathione reacts with methylglyoxal to give a hemithioacetal, which converted into S-D-lactoyl-glutathione by glyoxalase I.^[7] This thioester is hydrolyzed to D-lactatebyglyoxalase II.^[8]

Biochemical function[edit]

Methylglyoxal is involved in the formation of advanced glycation end products (AGEs).^[4] In this process, methylglyoxal reacts with free amino groups of lysine and arginine and with thiol groups of cysteine forming AGEs. Histones are also heavily susceptible to modification by methylglyoxal and these modifications are elevated in breast cancer.^[9][10]

DNA damages are induced by reactive carbonyls, principally methylglyoxal and glyoxal, at a frequency similar to that of oxidative DNA damages.^[12] Such damage, referred to as DNA glycation, can cause mutation, breaks in DNA and cytotoxicity.^[12] In humans, a protein DJ-1 (also named PARK7), has a key role in the repair of glycated DNA bases.

Biomedical aspects[edit]

Due to increased blood glucose levels, methylglyoxal has higher concentrations in diabetics and has been linked to arterial atherogenesis. Damage by methylglyoxal to low-density lipoprotein through glycation causes a fourfold increase of atherogenesis in diabetics.^[13] Methylglyoxal binds directly to the nerve endings and by that increases the chronic extremity soreness in diabetic neuropathy.^[14][15]

Occurrence, other[edit]

Methylglyoxal is a component of some kinds of honey, including manuka honey; it appears to have activity against E. coli and S. aureus and may help prevent formation of biofilms formed by P. aeruginosa.^[16]

Research suggests that methylglyoxal contained in honey does not cause an increased formation of advanced glycation end products (AGEs) in healthy persons.^[17][18]

See also[edit]

• Dicarbonyl
  • 1,2-Dicarbonyl, methylglyoxal can be classified as an 1,2-dicarbonyl

References[edit]