The decomposition of trimethylamine oxide (TMAO) to dimethylamine (DMA) was studied in the mantle of squid, Illex illecebrosus. The production of DMA in either whole or ground mantle stored at – 20°C was low or nonexistent. However, significant DMA was produced from TMAO during heating of squid or squid extracts. Conversion of TMAO to DMA was shown to reside in the soluble fraction of the squid mantle which catalyzed the breakdown of TMAO in an assay system consisting of FeCl2 and ascorbate at room temperature. On the average, some 10–15% of the activity was accounted for by a high molecular weight, thermolabile substance, presumably an enzyme. The rest of the activity was in a small molecular weight, thermostable fraction. The low molecular weight fraction produced significant quantities of TMA as well as DMA, had low activity with flavin-NADH, and was not activated by methylene blue.
No takes yet. Share an insight, caveat, or question.
NITISEWOJO et al. (1986) studied this question.
Synapse has enriched 5 closely related papers on similar clinical questions. Consider them for comparative context: