Acetoacetate

Acetoacetate is a ketone body that participates in numerous metabolic reactions. Enzymes acting on it include HMG-CoA lyase, -hydroxybutyrate dehydrogenase, and acetoacetate decarboxylase

Acetoacetate will also readily undergo uncatalyzed decarboxylation to form acetone and CO 2.

Acetoacetate is also produced in tyrosine catabolism by hydrolysis of fumarylacetoacetate (Figure 21.21), and is a metabolic end product of leucine and lysine catabolism (see here).

See also: HMG-CoA Lyase, -Hydroxybutyrate Dehydrogenase, Metabolism of Aromatic Amino Acids (from Chapter 21), Figure 18.21

INTERNET LINK: Ketone Body Metabolism