Determination of acid hydrolases in human platelets

A method is described which allows the preparation of pure cinnamoyl-CoA thiolesters in high yields. This procedure utilizes a partially purified cinnamoyl-CoA ligase obtained from a strain of Pseudomonas putida and some properties of this new enzyme are described. Product isolation involves polyamide column chromatography which allows the purification of 50-mg batches of thiolesters. The method is applicable to a range of cinnamic acids, and is particularly suitable in preparing the biologically important CoA esters of p-coumarate, ferulate, and caffeate.