5-Hydroxyvalerate CoA-transferase from Clostridium aminovalericum, strain T2-7, was purified approximately 100-fold to homogeneity. The molecular mass of the native enzyme was determined by three different methods to be 178 +/- 11 kDa; that of the subunit was 47 kDa, indicating a homotetrameric structure. The following CoA esters acted as substrates (decreasing specificity, V/Km): 5-hydroxyvaleryl-CoA greater than propionyl-CoA greater than acetyl-CoA greater than (Z)-5-hydroxy-2-pentenoyl-CoA greater than butyryl-CoA greater than valeryl-CoA. 4-Pentenoate and 3-pentenoate were also activated by acetyl-CoA to the corresponding CoA esters, whereas crotonate, (E)-5-hydroxy-2-pentenoate, (E)-2-pentenoate and 2,4-pentadienoate were not attacked. 5-Hydroxyvalerate CoA-transferase showed ping-pong kinetics and was inactivated by sodium boranate only in the presence of a CoA substrate. This indicated the formation of a thiolester between a specific carboxyl group of the enzyme and CoASH during the course of the reaction. The CoA-transferase was inhibited by ATP and CTP, slightly by ADP, GTP and UTP, but not by AMP. The inhibition by ATP was competitive towards CoA esters and noncompetitive towards acetate.