ABSTRACT
The copper-containing amine oxidases (CAOs; EC1.4.3.6, amine:oxygen oxidoreductase [deaminating]) comprise a large class of enzymes that catalyze the oxidation of primary amines to the corresponding aldehyde concomitant with the reduction of dioxygen to hydrogen peroxide. They are widely distributed in nature, found in prokaryotic and eukaryotic organisms (Zeller, 1963; Blaschko, 1974). Interest in these enzymes has greatly increased in recent years, resulting in the discovery that they play certain important physiopathological roles.
