Interaction of methylglyoxal with poly-L-lysine

The reaction of methylglyoxal with polypeptides is accompanied by an electron spin resonance absorption in the free radial region. Analysing the interaction of methylglyoxal with poly-L-lysine we found that methylglyoxal polymer formation is a major process in our system. The electron spin resonance signal seems to originate both from the polymer itself and its interaction with the polypeptide. Nuclear magnetic resonance measurements show that the methylglyoxal polymer interacts with the polypeptide via the NH groups of peptide bonds.