It has an important function in lysine metabolism and catalyses a reaction in the alpha-Aminoadipic acid pathway.

This pathway is unique to fungal organisms therefore, this molecule could be useful in the search for new antibiotics.

This protein family also includes saccharopine dehydrogenase and homospermidine synthase.

[2] In some organisms this enzyme is found as a bifunctional polypeptide with lysine ketoglutarate reductase (PF).

Both domains contain a six-stranded parallel beta-sheet surrounded by alpha-helices and loops (alpha/beta fold).