The assay and distribution of coenzyme A.

This is the f?rst paper in a series dealing with partial identification of coenzyme A, a pantothenic acid derivative (l), and with the enzymatic reactions in which this coenzyme is involved. These studies originated with the observation that pigeon liver extract on autolysis lost the ability to acetylate sulfanilamide (2). Such ability, however, was regained fully on addition of boiled extract of liver and of other organs. This observation characterized the enzymatic acetylation of aromatic amines, with adenosine triphosphate as a condensing agent, as being due to an apoenzyme-coenzyme system. The ease with which coenzyme was destroyed by autolysis suggested a convenient method of preparation of the apoenzyme which proved valuable for coenzyme evaluation. In the present paper, the assay procedure will be described. The results of assays for coenzyme A in various materials show a ubiquitous distribution of coenzyme A in living cells.