methylglyoxal


meth·yl·gly·ox·al

(meth'il-glī-ok'săl), Pyruvaldehyde; the aldehyde of pyruvic acid; an intermediate of carbohydrate metabolism in certain organisms. Synonym(s): pyruvic aldehyde

methylglyoxal

(mĕth″ĭl-glī-ŏk′sĭl, -awl) An aldehyde formed from the metabolic degradation of glucose. Methylglyoxal can bind to proteins and DNA, causing metabolic damage to tissues (e.g., in diabetes mellitus), mutations, or cell death.