Reductase for aromatic aldehydes and ketones. The partial purification and properties of a reduced triphosphopyridine nucleotide-dependent reductase from rabbit kidney cortex.

The partial purification of the enzyme, aromatic aldehydeketone reductase (aromatic A-K reductase), from rabbit kidney cortex is described. Aromatic A-K reductase utilizes TPNH but not DPNH as a cosubstrate. Substituted benzaldehydes and acetophenones are readily reduced to carbinols. Aromatic A-K reductase does not, however, catalyze the reverse reaction, the dehydrogenation of carbinols under the experimental conditions used. Aromatic A-K reductase utilizes the /3 hydrogen atom at C-4 of TPNH.