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

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 13C 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.