The effect of copper ions, the inorganic cofactor of amine oxidase (AO; EC 1.4.3.6), on the production of this enzyme in lentil (Lens culinaris) seedlings was studied. The addition of CuSO4 to the imbibition water during the germination of lentils increased the AO activity. However, the amounts of specific mRNA and protein were not affected by the presence of Cu2+. Furthermore, the addition of Cu2+ to homogenates of lentil seedlings grown in the absence of the metal substantially increased the AO activity. Therefore, it appears that exogenously added Cu2+ does not increase the production of AO in lentil seedlings which are still able to synthesize the copper-free enzyme. The addition of Cu2+ seems to reconstitute the enzymatically active holoprotein.