title: Possible involvement of radical reactions in desialylation of LDL.
abstract: The role of oxidatively modified LDL in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis has been well documented. These studies have focused on modifications of lipid and protein parts of LDL. Recently desialylated LDL has received attention in relation to atherosclerosis and coronary artery disease. We examined the possible involvement of radical reactions in desialylation of LDL. Human LDL was subjected to oxidative damage using Cu2+ ion. As the conjugated dienes monitored by absorption at 234 nm increased, the content of sialic acid decreased steadily. Both the elevation of conjugated diene and the decrease of sialic acid were inhibited by beta-mercaptoethanol, a typical radical scavenger. Besides, both butylated hydroxytoluene and a nitrogen atmosphere inhibited the decrease of sialic acid. These inhibition experiments suggested that sialic acid moieties in LDL were reactive toward radicals.
authors.affiliation: Department of Food Science and Nutrition, Nara Women's University, Japan.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Tanaka
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Tokumaru
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kojo
mesh_terms: D002084:Butylated Hydroxytoluene / Q000494:pharmacology; D019327:Copper Sulfate / Q000494:pharmacology; D016166:Free Radical Scavengers / Q000494:pharmacology; D005609:Free Radicals; D006801:Humans; D015227:Lipid Peroxidation; D008077:Lipoproteins, LDL / Q000378:metabolism*; D008623:Mercaptoethanol / Q000494:pharmacology; D019158:N-Acetylneuraminic Acid / Q000378:metabolism*; D009584:Nitrogen / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D016166:Free Radical Scavengers; D005609:Free Radicals; D008077:Lipoproteins, LDL; D002084:Butylated Hydroxytoluene; D008623:Mercaptoethanol; D019158:N-Acetylneuraminic Acid; D019327:Copper Sulfate; D009584:Nitrogen