New Substrates of Polyamine Oxidase Dealkylation ofN-Alkyl-αω-Diamines

Abstract

1) N-Alkyl-.alpha.,.omega.-diaminoalkanes are substrates of polyamine oxidase. 2) The compounds are oxidatively cleaved and form equimolar amounts of an aldehyde, a diamine, and H2O2. 3) Minimum structural requirements of a substrate of polyamine oxidase are two positively charged amino groups and an alkyl-substituent on one or both nitrogen atoms. 4) Dealkylation of N-alkyl derivatives by polyamine oxidase in vivo is a method to accumulate diamines in brain, and to release intracellularly an aldehyde from a stable prodrug.