Rat liver cytoplasmic acetyl-CoA synthetase was partially purified (purification factor = 23, yield = 30%). The apparent Kms for acetate, coenzyme A, ATP and MgCl2 were determined and found to be 52.5 microM, 50.5 microM, 570 microM and 1.5 mM, respectively. The partially-purified enzyme showed a low affinity for short-chain carbon substrates other than acetate. The properties of the partially-purified enzyme were compared with those of enzymes from other sources.