Methylglyoxal-induced DNA-protein cross-links and cytotoxicity in Chinese hamster ovary cells

Abstract
The technique of alkaline elution was applied to study the capacity of methylglyoxal to induce DNA damage and rapair in Chinese hamster ovary cells. DNA cross-linking was observed after a 90-min exposure to a subtoxic dose (1.5 mM), and the cross-links were fully repaired by 24 h. The cross-linking appeared to be DNA-protein in nature, since proteinase treatment removed the effect. When the same cells were exposed to methylgloxal in the presence of a rat liver metabolic system, both cytotoxicity and cross-linking frequency were significantly reduced.