Enzyme preparations from Mycobacterium phlei, Escherichia coli and Galium mollugo cell suspension cultures were incubated in the presence of 4-(2'-carboxyphenyl)-4-oxobutyrate (i.e. o-succinylbenzoic acid, OSB, 1), ATP, coenzyme A and Mg2+. The main product isolated from the incubation mixture was 4-(2'-carboxyphenyl)-4-oxobutyryl coenzyme A ester (2) as determined by comparison with synthetic ...