[Simple method of acetoid determination and its application to the analysis of pyruvate dehydrogenase]

A modification of the method for determining the content of acetoin in biological media is described; the method is based on formation of a stained complex under acyloin heating with the acidified ammonium molybdate water solution. Colorimetric determination of the acetoin amount in the enzymic system containing sodium pyruvate, thiamine pyrophosphate and tris-HCl is shown to be possible. Application of the method to analysis of the catalytic activity of pyruvate dehydrogenase preparations from different sources and with different degree of purification in the reaction of acetoin formation from pyruvate is described.