DIHYDROLIPOIC DEHYDROGENASE ACTIVITY: A STEP IN FORMATION OF ACYL-COENZYME A, DEMONSTRATED HISTOCHEMICALLY

A method for the histochemical localization of dihydrolipoic dehydrogenase has been developed, using diphospyridine nucleotide (DPN) as a coenzyme and Nitro-blue tetrazolium (Nitro-BT) as the final electron acceptor. With this technique the enzyme, which plays an important role in the synthesis of coenzyme-A linked acyls, was found to be widespread in the tissues of the rat, and its distribution in various organs is presented. The problems involved in the histochemical demonstration of dihydrolipoic dehydrogenase are discussed.