Summary
Project Summary and Abstract Methylglyoxal (MGO) is a highly reactive, toxic molecule that is produced non-enzymatically during central metabolism by virtually all cells. Some microorganisms, including enteric bacteria such as Escherichia coli, also enzymatically produce MGO during metabolic shifts in order to mitigate phosphorylated sugar toxicity. Although its production serves to protect E. coli, MGO also directly damages cells, in part through targeted modification (glycation) of proteins. In Eukaryotes, glycation has been shown to modulate the enzymatic activity of certain proteins, which
