Studies on glycation of human low density lipoprotein: a functional insight into physico-chemical analysis

Glycation of biomolecules leads to the establishment of advanced glycation end products (AGEs), which have significant role in the pathophysiology of diabetes leading to disorders, such as atherosclerosis. Ribose appears to be the most reactive among the naturally occurring sugars and contribute significantly to the glycation reactions in vivo, however, no report has been published to discuss D-ribose induced glycation of low density lipoprotein (LDL). The present study initially focuses on the glycation of commercially available LDL using different concentrations of D-ribose for varied incubation time intervals. The structural perturbations induced in LDL were analyzed by UV-vis, fluorescence & circular dichroism spectroscopy, and thermal denaturation studies. The ketoamine moieties, carbonyl content and HMF content were also quantitated in native and glycated LDL. We report structural perturbations, increased carbonyl content, ketoamine moieties and HMF content in D-ribose induced glycated LDL (LDL-AGEs) as compared to native analogue. These results provide evidence that LDL-AGEs could interfere in normal physiological functions and might contribute in the initiation of diabetes induced atherosclerosis and other secondary cardiovascular problems in diabetic patients. Though ours is a preliminary study, we are sure it would open the topic for further studies.