The enzymatic oxidation of 1,2-propanediol phosphate to acetol phosphate.

Lindberg (I) has presented evidence for the occurrence of 1,2propanediol phosphate in beef brain. This compound has also been reported to occur in other tissues (2-4). However, the structure, metabolism, and biological significance of this compound is unknown. Groth et al. (5) have reported that (Y-labeled pyruvate is incorporated into propanediol-P’ under anaerobic conditions in fluoride-inhibited homogenates of brain, liver, and induced tumors (Flexner-Jobling) . These authors have suggested that acetolphosphate is an intermediate in the conversion of pyruvate to propanediol-P. It has also been suggested that acetol-P is a product of the oxidation of propanediol-P by soluble a-glycerol phosphate dehydrogenase from rabbit muscle (‘3. In the present paper the product of the oxidation of propanediol-P by rabbit muscle oc-glycerol phosphate dehydrogenase has been established as acetol-P, CH3COCH20P03H2. Attempts to demonstrate this reaction in rat liver homogenates have been unsuccessful.