We foundN-methyl-l-amino acid dehydrogenase activity in various bacter-ial strains, such as Pseudomonas putidaandBacillus alvei, and cloned the gene fromP. putidaATCC12633 intoEscherichia coli. The enzyme purified to homogeneity from recombinant E. colicatalyzed the NADPH-dependent formation of N-alkyl-l-amino acids from the corresponding a-oxo acids (. pyruvate, phenylpyruvate, and hydroxypyruvate) and alkylamines (. methylamine, ethylamine, and propylamine).