1986 Volume 15 Issue 1 Pages 37-43
Using appropriate conditions for head space gas chromatography, we investigated the plasma components which facilitate decarboxylation of acetoacetate. The highest activity was found in the albumin fraction. Our results on various properties (effects of pH, type of Michaelis-Menten plot, Kcat and Km values) differed appreciably from those of earlier investigators.
Weak acetoacetate decarboxylation activity was observed in serum ultrafiltrate. The acetoacetate decarboxylation activity of several amino acids and related compounds was examined: all amino acids showed some activity, but acylated amino acids did not. The activity in serum ultrafiltrate appears to come almost entirely from the amino acids.
Because the acetoacetate decarboxylation properties of intact serum is almost all attributable to serum protein, for accurate acetone and acetoacetate determination, blood sample should be deproteinized before storage.
