A semi-preparative enzymic synthesis of malonyl-CoA from [14C]acetate and 14CO2: labelling in the 1, 2 or 3 position.

A semi-preparative enzymic synthesis of [1-14C]malonyl-CoA from [1-14C]acetate and bicarbonate, and of [3-14C]malonyl-CoA from Na2(14)CO3 and acetate, was achieved by using chloroplasts rapidly isolated from 7-8-day-old pea shoots. Around 70% of the [1-14C]acetate was converted into malonyl-CoA in 2-3 h, and the specific radioactivity of [3-14C]malonyl-CoA synthesized in the system was 25-30 Ci/mol. Reactions were monitored and labelled products were purified by h.p.l.c.