Physicochemical analysis of structural changes in DNA modified with glucose

Abstract

Reactions of reducing sugars with free amino groups of proteins can form advanced glycation end products (AGEs). While the formation of nucleoside AGEs has been studied in detail, no extensive work has been carried out to assess DNA Amadori and DNA advanced glycation end products. In this study, we report biophysical/chemical characterization of glucose-induced changes in DNA, as well as DNA Amadori and DNA advanced glycation end products. Glucose treated DNA exhibited hyperchromicity, decrease in melting temperature, and enhanced emission intensity in a time dependent manner. Formation of DNA Amadori product and DNA advanced glycation end products, mainly CEdG (N²-carboxyethyl-2'-deoxyguanosine), were the major outcome of the study.