Alpha-aminoadipic acid: A product of lysine metabolism

As part of a study of protein and peptide metabolism lysine was synthesized with C14 in the ε position and resolved into the L and D isomers. 10 mg. of labeled lysine dihydrochloride (either L- or D-) and 0.66 gm. (wet weight) of guinea pig liver homogenate were added to a reaction mixture containing 1.3 per cent of an amino acid mixture corresponding to the composition of casein except for lysine and 0.01 M α-ketoglutarate, all in a final volume of 4 ml. of isotonic saline solution.(1) The reaction was carried out under oxygen for 6 hours at 38°