A thioester transacetylase, prepared from E. coli, transports one acetyl group from an acetyl donor (lithium acetyl phosphate) to reduced lipoic (dihydrolipoic2) acid in the presence of phosphotransacetylase and Coenzyme A. This transacetylation is stereospecific for (-)- dihydrolipoic acid3 (11) obtained by NaBHd reduction of (+)-lipoic acid (I). By chemical acetylation a monoacetyl-dihydrolipoic acid has been prepared, and shown to be 8-S- ...
