Saccharopine


Saccharopine is an intermediate in the metabolism of amino acid lysine. It is a precursor of lysine in the alpha-aminoadipate pathway which occurs in fungi and euglenids. In mammals and higher plants saccharopine is an intermediate in the degradation of lysine, formed by condensation of lysine and alpha-ketoglutarate.

Reaction

The reactions involved, catalysed by saccharopine dehydrogenases, are:

Pathology

and saccharopinemia are conditions present in some inherited disorders of lysine degradation.

History

Saccharopine was first isolated in 1961 from yeasts by Darling and Larsen.