acetyl coenzyme A or acetyl-CoA; a derivative of coenzyme A in which the sulfhydryl group is acetylated. Originally termed ‘active acetate’, it is an important metabolite, derived from pathways such as glycolysis, fatty-acid oxidation, and degradative metabolism of some amino acids. It is further metabolized by the tricarboxylic- acid cycle and represents a key intermediate in lipid and terpenoid biosynthesis and other anabolic reactions.
