FORMATION OF A DIHYDROPYRIDINE DERIVATIVE AS A POTENTIAL CROSS-LINK DERIVED FROM MALONDIALDEHYDE IN PHYSIOLOGICAL SYSTEMS

Malondialdehyde is a major oxidation product of lipids which is capabl e of cross-linking the collagen of the cardiovascular system. Identifi cation of cross-links usually involves degradative procedures, In this paper, we use a novel, direct, approach using nuclear magnetic resona nce to identify early and labile products, Initial model studies show that malondialdehyde reacts with lysine to form a dihydropyridine deri vative rather than the unstable imidopropene Schiff base previously re ported, The aldehydes on the pyridine ring could react further to cros s-link collagen and stiffen the aorta, thereby promoting further glyca tion, a process that would be accelerated in diabetes. (C) 1998 Federa tion of European Biochemical Societies.