Methylglyoxal inhibits the translation of natural and chemically decapped mRNAs.

Methylglyoxal was a weak inhibitor of translation in the reticulocyte-lysate cell-free system and it did not display cap-dependent inhibition. A similar inhibition was obtained in a wheat-germ cell-free system that displayed extensive cap-dependent inhibition with the cap analogue 7-methylguanosine phosphate. These results show that the chemical reaction of methylglyoxal with 7-methylguanosine is not the mechanism for the inhibition of protein synthesis by methylglyoxal and that methylglyoxal is a weak general inhibitor of translation.