Synthesis and oxidation of aminoalkyl-onium compounds by pig kidney diamine oxidase.

1. The preparation of a series of compounds derived from diamines by replacing one amino group by a dimethylsulphonium, isothiuronium, trimethylammonium, NN'-dimethylimidazolium or N-methylpyridinium species is described. 2. The behaviour of these compounds as substrates of pig kidney diamine oxidase is reported. All but the trimethylammonium compounds proved to be substrates. 3. Many of these compounds showed potent inhibition at high substrate concentration and this was studied. 4. On the basis of these and other observations a scheme for enzyme-substrate interaction is suggested.