On the oxidation of cystathionamine and selenocystathionamine by plant amineoxidase.

Cystathionamine and selenocystathionamine, diamines analogous to 1,6-diaminohexane but having the third methylene group of the carbon chain substituted by a S or a Se atom, are asymmetrical thio- (seleno-) ethers. They can give rise by oxidative monodeamination to two different aminoaldehydes. It has been shown that lentil seedlings amineoxidase catalyzes the oxidative deamination of either the one or the other aminogroup of cystathionamine or of selenocystathionamine, giving rise to both possible aminoaldehydes.