pyruvic

Pyruvic refers to pyruvic acid and its derivatives, including salts and esters such as sodium pyruvate. Pyruvic acid, also known as 2-oxopropanoic acid, is the smallest alpha-keto acid and a key intermediate in central metabolism. In physiological conditions it largely exists as the pyruvate anion rather than the neutral acid.

Biological role: Pyruvate is the end product of glycolysis and serves as a central metabolic hub. It is transported into mitochondria and converted to acetyl-CoA by the pyruvate dehydrogenase complex, feeding the citric acid cycle and energy production. In anaerobic conditions, pyruvate is reduced to lactate by lactate dehydrogenase to regenerate NAD+. Pyruvate can also be carboxylated to oxaloacetate by pyruvate carboxylase for gluconeogenesis or anaplerosis, and can be transaminated to form alanine.

Industrial and medical relevance: Salts such as sodium pyruvate are used in laboratory cell culture media and in metabolic research as sources of pyruvate. Pyruvate metabolism is a focus in studies of mitochondrial disorders and lactic acidosis, particularly when the pyruvate dehydrogenase complex is impaired. In microorganisms, pyruvate participates in fermentation, with pathways that convert it to acetaldehyde and CO2 and, subsequently, to ethanol in yeast.