Abstract
1. Alpha-keto-iso-caproic acid and α-keto-iso-valeric acid were prepared by hydrolysis of their corresponding acyl cyanides with concentrated hy-drochloric acid.
2. L-Leucine was obtained from α-keto-iso-caproic acid by heart muscle transaminase. The yield of L-leucine from iso-valeric acid was 17 per cent, whereas that of L-valine from iso-butyric acid was only 6 per cent.
3. Fate of L-alanine formed in enzymatic transamination where L-aspartic acid is used as main amino donor was described.
4. A new reaction of methionine formation in biological systems was suggested.
The author wishes to thank Prof. S. Akabori for his kind guidance and also to Messrs. S. Yamada and T. Ito for their technical assistance.
