Requires Mg2+ for activity. While purified enzyme from Escherichia coli is specific for acetate [4], others have found that the enzyme can also use propanoate as a substrate, but more slowly [7]. Acetate can be converted into the key metabolic intermediate acetyl-CoA by coupling acetate kinase with EC
2.3.1.8, phosphate acetyltransferase. Both this enzyme and EC
2.7.2.15, propionate kinase, play important roles in the production of propanoate [9].