Oxidative deamination of Se-(1-carboxyethyl)-,Se-(1-carboxypropyl)- and Se-(2-carboxyethyl)-selenocysteine by snake venom L-aminoacid oxidase

Details are reported for the synthesis of Se-(1-carboxyethyl)-selenocysteine (1-CESeC), Se-(1-carboxypropyl)-selenocysteine (1-CPSeC) and Se-(2-carboxyethyl)-selenocysteine (2-CESeC). They can be obtained in pure cristalline form with good yield. Some chromatographic properties, useful for their identification, are described. The three aminoacids are good substrates for snake venom L-aminoacid oxidase, giving the corresponding alpha-ketoacids as reaction products.