Has antibacterial activity against a wide spectrum of Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria including nosocomial isolates of S.aureus and Pseudomonas sp. The antimicrobial activity is due to hydrogen peroxide generated by its lysine oxidase activity. Also has autotoxic activity. Involved in biofilm differentiation; responsible for cell death within microcolonies during biofilm development which is linked to the generation of a phenotypically diverse dispersal population and thus may play a role in colonization. H2O + L-lysine + O2 = (S)-2-amino-6-oxohexanoate + H2O2 + NH4(+) Contains 1 cysteine tryptophylquinone per subunit. Inhibited by aminoguanidine, amiloride and beta-aminopropionitrile. Also uses N(2)-acetyl-L-lysine as substrate. Homotetramer. Forms part of an operon with lodB. The cysteine tryptophylquinone (CTQ) is generated by oxidation of the indole ring of a tryptophan residue to form tryptophylquinone, followed by covalent cross-linking with a cysteine residue. The intracellular stability of LodA is dependent on the presence of LodB protein.