Background: Diabetes is associated with an increased risk of Parkinson's disease (PD). Number of studies have suggested that methylglyoxal (MGO) induced by diabetes is related to PD. However, very little is known about its molecular mechanism. On other hand, 1-acetyl-6, 7-dihydroxy1-1, 2, 3, 4-Tetrahydroisoquinoline(ADTIQ) is a dopamine (DA)-derived tetrahydroisoquinoline (TIQ), a novel endogenous neurotoxins, which was first discovered in frozen Parkinson's disease human brain tissue. While ADTIQ precursor methylglyoxal was also found in diabetic patients related to the glucose metabolism and diabetic patients. Methods: LC-MS/MS, 1H NMR and infrared spectroscopy identified the structure of ADTIQ. The Annexin V-FITC/PI, MIT and western blot analysis were used to measure the neurotoxicity of ADTIQ. The levels of ADTIQ and methylglyoxal were detected by LC-MS/MS. Results: Here we report the chemical synthesis of ADTIQ, demonstrate its biosynthesis in SH-SY5Y neuroblastoma cell line and investigate its role in the pathogenesis of PD. In addition, a significant increase in the level of ADTIQ was detected in the brains of transgenic mice expressing mutant forms (A53T or A30P) of alpha-synuclein. ADTIQ also reduced the cell viability and induced mitochondrial apoptosis in dopaminergic cells, suggesting that ADTIQ acts as an endogenous neurotoxin and potentially involved in the pathogenesis of PD. Methylglyoxal, a major byproduct of glucose metabolism and abnormalities in glucose metabolism could influence the levels of ADTIQ Consistent with the hypothesis, increased levels of ADTIQ and methylglyoxal were detected in the striatum of diabetic rats and SH-SY5Y cells cultured in the presence of high glucose concentrations. Conclusions: Increased levels of ADTIQ could be related with Hyperglycemia and death of dopaminergic neurons. General significance: The increased levels of ADTIQ could be a reason of dopamine neuron dysfunction in diabetes. Therefore, ADTIQ may play a key role in increasing the risk for PD in patients With diabetes. (C) 2015 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.