Enzymatic production of alpha-aminoadipate-delta-semialdehyde and related compounds by lysine epsilon-dehydrogenase from Candida albicans.

L-Lysine epsilon-dehydrogenase [L-lysine:NADP+ oxidoreductase (epsilon-deaminating), EC 1.4.1.15] of Candida albicans was studied emphasizing its application for the production of alpha-aminoadipate-delta-semialdehyde and related compounds. A high enzyme level (240 pkat/mg of protein in the crude extract) could be attained during growth in the presence of L-lysine as sole nitrogen source. After optimization of the reaction conditions a partial purified enzyme (1.5 nkat/mg of protein) was used to produce alpha-aminoadipate-delta-semialdehyde, S-(beta-acetaldehyde)-cysteine, alpha-amino-delta-hydroxyadipate-semialdehyde and alpha-amino-gamma-hydroxyadipate-semialdehyde from the corresponding substrates lysine, S-(beta-aminoethyl)-cysteine, 5-hydroxylysine and 4-hydroxylysine, respectively. After purification of the compounds using Dowex 50 x 4 chromatography a yield of the products between 4.6 and 6.8% was achieved.