amino acid dehydrogenases

a·mi·no ac·id de·hy·dro·gen·as·es

enzymes catalyzing the oxidative deamination of amino acids to the corresponding oxo (keto) acids; two relatively nonspecific varieties exist, l and d, for which l-amino acids and d-amino acids are the respective substrates; the products include NH3 and a reduced hydrogen acceptor (NADH in the l case); amino acid dehydrogenases of greater specificity exist (for example, glycine dehydrogenase). Compare: amino acid oxidases.