A comparative study on the role of Lysine and BSA in Glycation-induced damage to DNA

Glycation is a nonenzymatic process in which carbonyl groups of sugar react with the amino group of proteins and nucleic acids. This process leads to the formation of many deleterious products which are commonly called as advanced glycation end products (AGEs). These products have been implicated in various pathophysiological conditions like retinopathy, diabetes, Parkinson’s, Alzheimer etc. In the present study, effect of glycation on the structure of nucleic acids (plasmid and genomic DNA) has been studied. Glucose and methyl glyoxal (MG) caused damage to plasmid DNA in the presence of lysine and/or FeCl3. When plasmid pBR322 DNA was incubated with BSA and MG, it showed gradual increase in the structural alteration with corresponding increase in incubation. Similarly, genomic DNA was also damaged in the presence of lysine, MG and FeCl3. These results indicate the glycoxidative damage of nucleic acids and role of metal ions in the catalysis of the process. This work also indicates the differential potential of lysine and BSA in glycation-induced damage of DNA.