ABSTRACT
The properties and behaviors of copper amine oxidase enzymes are reviewed in detail elsewhere in this volume and this account will concentrate on their “identity crisis” and their more intriguing functional diversity. Although some politicians and pundits may disagree, it is generally accepted that it is helpful to be clear what one is actually talking about. This has proven to be more difcult than it should be for the copper amine oxidases because the term refers to a group of enzymes with diverse activities and functions. These include diamine oxidase (DAO), lysyl oxidase (LOX),
and an enzyme that acts toward primary monoamines-often called semicarbazidesensitive amine oxidase (SSAO).
