Metabolism of acetoin in mammalian liver slices and extracts. Interconversion with butane-2,3-diol and biacetyl

[(14)C]Acetoin was enzymically synthesized from [(14)C]pyruvate with a pyruvate decarboxylase preparation. Its optical activity was [alpha](20) (d)-78 degrees . 2. Large amounts (1000-fold higher than physiological concentrations) of acetoin were incubated with rat liver mince. Acetoin disappeared but very little (14)CO(2) was evolved. A compound accumulated, which was purified and identified as butane-2,3-diol. Chromatography on borate-impregnated paper indicated the presence of both the erythro and threo forms. 3. Liver extracts capable of interconverting biacetyl, acetoin and butane-2,3-diol were obtained. These interconversions were catalysed by two different enzymes: acetoin dehydrogenase (EC 1.1.1.5) and butane-2,3-diol dehydrogenase (EC 1.1.1.4), previously identified in bacteria. Both required NAD(+) or NADP(+) as cofactors and were different from alcohol dehydrogenase. The equilibrium in both cases favoured the more reduced compound. 4. The activity of butane-2,3-diol dehydrogenase was decreased by dialysis against EDTA: the addition of Co(2+), Cu(2+), Zn(2+) and other bivalent metal ions restored activity. 5. Biacetyl reductase was resolved into multiple forms by CM-Sephadex chromatography and electrophoresis.