CYSTAMINE AND HOMOCYSTAMINE OXIDATION IN A COUPLED REACTION CATALYZED BY DIAMINEOXIDASE AND ALDEHYDE DEHYDROGENASE

Cystamine and homocystamine are oxidatively monodeaminated by lentil seedling amineoxidase and the aminoaldehydes arising from this reaction are readily oxidized to the corresponding omega-aminoacids by bakers yeast aldehyde dehydrogenase. The aminoaldehyde arising from cystamine, if not immediately oxidized by aldehyde dehydrogenase, gives rise to a cyclic adlimine, called cystaldimine, which undergoes spontaneous degradation with the breakdown of the C-S and the azomethine bonds. However, the aminoaldehyde arising from homocystamine does not cyclize and therefore does not undergo degradation.