Galactose dialdehyde: the forgotten candidate for a protein cross-linker?

Oxidation of D-galactose mediated by D-galactose oxidase [EC 1.1.3.9] gave a dialdehyde that occurs as two bicyclic structures in aqueous solution as established by C-13 labeling and NMR spectroscopy. The dialdehyde is very reactive at basic pH leading to complex reaction mixtures. A comparison was made with glutaraldehyde to assess its potential as protein cross-linker. (C) 2001 Published by Elsevier Science Ltd.