The activity of two enzymes involved in acetone production in Clostridium acetobutylicum, acetoacetate decarboxylase and coenzyme A transferase, was studied under acidogenic or solventogenic conditions. Acetoacetate decarboxylase activity was low under acidogenic conditions and after pyruvate addition. Under the same conditions, coenzyme A transferase activity was high. A mutant which lacked acetoacetate decarboxylase activity but was positive for coenzyme A transferase activity was isolated.