What is pyruvic acid?
pyruvic acid is organic acid that occurs in most biological systems. It is a colorless liquid that is chemically represented as CH3 sub> coco 2 sub> H. When pyruvic acid loses hydrogen atom, it gets a negative charge and is called pyruvate. Pyruvát is essential for many metabolic paths required by living organisms and is chemically represented as C 3 h 3 o 3 bus>.
pyruvat is used in metabolic reactions to provide energy for the body. Glucose - more commonly known as sugar - can be divided in a process called glycolysis, which results in the formation of pyruvate. Pyruvát can then be converted into acetyl-koenzym A, which is necessary to start a number of reactions known as the Krebs cycle, also known as a cycle of citric acid. In the Krebs cycle, oxygen is used to convert carbohydrates, fats and proteins into carbon dioxide and water, which creates energy in the process.
in a separate process can be pyruvate overwhelmingA compound of a compound called oxaloacetate, which is also an essential part of the Krebs cycle. Oxaloacetate is an intermediary in gluconeogenesis, a process in which the body is able to produce glucose in times of extreme stress. This usually occurs during a period of starvation or intense exercise.
pyruvat can also be used to produce amino acids, amino acids used to create proteins. Alanine and pyruvates are easily interchangeable through reversible transamination reactions.
In the absence of oxygen, pyruvated can be distributed in humans and animals to form lactate. Conversion of pyruvate to lactate usually occurs only during intensive activity when the demand for energy is very high. When the same reaction occurs in plants or bacteria, the final product is ethanol, a central component in all alcoholic beverages.
essentially pyruvat is required for many metabolic reactionCitizens that biologically serve many different purposes. Although it is made of glucose, pyruvate can be converted into energy through the Krebs cycle, to carbohydrates for storing energy gluconeogenesis, protein in the form of amino acid alanine and ethanol in anaerobic reactions. Interestingly, because pyruvic acid is so simple chemically and necessary for many reactions necessary to maintain life, some people think it was one of the first organic compounds and a catalyst of life on Earth.