The metabolism of d-glyceraldehyde by the lens

Abstract

1. The metabolism of d-glyceraldehyde by the lens was examined. 2. When low concentrations of d-[U−14C]glyceraldehyde were incubated with lens extracts there was no incorporation of the label into protein; more than two-thirds of the labelled metabolites consisted of glyceric acid and glycerol, their relative proportions depending on the species. Lactic acid, a phosphate, glutathione–glyceraldehyde compounds and a neutral compound were also formed. 3. When high concentrations of d-[U−14C]glyceraldehyde were incubated with lens, extensive incorporation of the label into protein occurred and the protein became yellow–brown. This coloured protein did not exhibit the fluorescent properties shown by the brown proteins of human cataractous senile lens, or of naphthaquinone-treated lens. 4. Evidence that d-glyceraldehyde is formed by the lens was sought but not found.

Effects of Glyceraldehyde on the Structural and Functional Properties of Sickle Erythrocytes

“…The loss of reduced glutathione after reaction with glyceraldehyde is consistent with the findings of van Heyningen (26). She observed a reduction in glutathione after treatment of lens extracts with glyceraldehyde and she obtained three separate products on thin layer chromatograms; these products were not identified.…”

Contributions of polyol pathway to oxidative stress in diabetic cataract

“…To gain a better understanding on the mechanism of GSH depletion in diabetes, transgenic mouse lenses were incubated in culture medium containing glyceraldehyde, which has been shown to be a better substrate for AR than glucose (38). Unlike sorbitol, the resulting product glycerol tends not to accumulate in cells, but is further metabolized (39,40); thus, the flux of glyceraldehyde through the polyol pathway would not generate a significant osmotic burden to the cells in lens. When lenses were cultured in medium containing glyceraldehyde for 5 days, the level of GSH in transgenic mouse lenses decreased to about the same levels as that of the lens in diabetic AR transgenic mice (Fig.…”