Malondialdehyde (MDA)

Malondialdehyde, MDA is a highly reactive three carbon dialdehyde produced as a byproduct of polyunsaturated fatty acid peroxidation and arachidonic acid metabolism. MDA readily combines with several functional groups on molecules including proteins, lipoproteins, and DNA. MDA-modified proteins may show altered physico-chemical behavior and antigenicity. Malondialdehyde is a highly reactive compound that is not typically observed in pure form. In the laboratory it can be generated in situ by hydrolysis of 1,1,3,3-tetramethoxypropane, which is commercially available. It is easily deprotonated to give the sodium salt of the enolate (m.p. 245 °C).Malondialdehyde reacts with deoxyadenosine and deoxyguanosine in DNA, forming DNA adducts, primarily M₁G, which is mutagenic. The guanidine group of arginine residues condense with MDA to give 2-aminopyrimidines.