Oxidative modification of human ceruloplasmin by methylglyoxal: an in vitro study

Methylglyoxal (MG) is an endogenous physiological metabolite which is present in increased concentrations in diabetics. MG reacts with the amino acids of proteins to form advanced glycation end products. In this in vitro study, we investigated the effect of MG on the structure and function of ceruloplasmin (CP) a serum oxidase carrier of copper ions in the human. When CP was incubated with MG, the protein showed increased electrophoretic mobility which represented the aggregates at a high concentration of MG (100 mM). MG-mediated CP aggregation led to the loss of enzymatic activity and the release of copper ions from the protein. Radical scavengers and copper ion chelators significantly prevented CP aggregation. CP is an important protein that circulates in plasma as a major copper transport protein. It is suggested that oxidative damage of CP by MG may induce perturbations of the copper transport system and subsequently lead to harmful intracellular condition. The proposed mechanism, in part, may provide an explanation for the deterioration of organs in the diabetic patient.