[Purification of 2 succinic semi-aldehyde reductases from the human brain]

Two succinic semi-aldehyde reductases (A and B) have been purified to electrophoretic homogeneity. Enzyme A, which is a monomer of molecular weight 40,000 +/- 5,000 reduces a wide range of aldehydes and is inhibited by some barbiturates and certain anticonvulsants. Enzyme B, which is a dimer of molecular weight 80,000 +/- 10,000, is very specific for succinic semi-aldehyde and is not inhibited by the aforementioned compounds.