MECHANISM OF PHENYLACETYLCARBINOL SYNTHESIS BY YEAST

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Abstract
A mechanism by which yeasts synthesize phenylacetylcarbinol from pyruvic acid and benzaldehyde was found to be a dismutation of pyruvic acid to lactic acid and an acetyl-coenzyme A complex, which then condenses with benzaldehyde to yield phenylacetylcarbinol. The coenzyme requirements are cocarboxylase, Mg++, diphosphopyridine nucleotide and coenzyme A. The carbinol can also be synthesized from acetyl phosphate and benzaldehyde in the presence of coenzyme A. The optimal pH of this acetylation reaction lies between 4.5 and 5.5. A competition for benzaldehyde by the carbinol synthesizing system and alcohol dehydrogenase exists. The point of interrelationship between these 2 systems is their requirement for diphosphopyridine nucleotide.