Time-dependent inhibition of diamine oxidase by carbonyl-group reagents and urea.

1. The behaviour of several carbonyl group reagents and urea as time-dependent inhibitors of both pig kidney and human placental diamine oxidase is described. 2. Plots of log (vt/vo) against time were not linear with these reagents as the usual theories predict. 3. This was particularly the case with aminoguanidine and phenylhydrazine and a thorough study of the effects of these compounds on the human placental diamine oxidase is described. 4. By applying a new theory for time-dependent inhibition, the inhibition of diamine oxidase by aminoguanidine and phenylhydrazine is adequately accounted for. 5. The time-dependent recovery of activity on addition of sodium pyruvate suggested that the compounds used are acting solely as carbonyl group reagents, inhibiting by Schiff-base formation at the active-site carbonyl group.