What is pyruvate?

Hint: Pyruvate is a key intermediate in numerous metabolic processes in living organisms. It is the conjugate base of pyruvic acid and is also known as the a-keto propanoic acid. There are two possible ways in which pyruvate can be generated which is either through the glycolytic pathway or through the metabolism of amino acids.

Complete answer:
Pyruvate is found at the intersection of various biochemical pathways such as gluconeogenesis, fermentation, cellular respiration, fatty acid synthesis. It is one of the end products of glycolysis that is transported to the mitochondria in the participation of the citric acid cycle.

Pyruvate undergoes fermentation in order to produce lactate in the absence of oxygen. The regeneration of glucose is possible with pyruvate and also with lactate. Anabolic synthesis of fatty acids and amino acids involves pyruvate.

Pyruvate provides energy to the living cells through the Krebs cycle. It is first decarboxylated to acetyl Coenzyme A which then enters the Krebs cycle.

Pyruvate is being used in various metabolic pathways like.
- Energy production during aerobic respiration - Pyruvate produced in the glycolysis enters mitochondria and after the process of oxidative decarboxylation, acetyl Coenzyme A is produced, which enters the Citric acid cycle for energy production.
- Formation of amino acid - Pyruvate gets converted to alanine by transamination.
- Fermentation - During anaerobic respiration, pyruvate is converted into alcohol and also lactic acid.
- Formation of carbohydrates - Carbohydrate is produced by gluconeogenesis pathway. In this process, glucose is produced from non-carbohydrate sources, which are first converted to pyruvate and then to glucose.

Note: Pyruvic acid or pyruvate supplies energy to cells through the citric acid cycle which is also known as the Krebs cycle when oxygen is present which means aerobic respiration and alternatively ferments to produce lactate when oxygen is lacking. Pyruvate is being sold as a weight-loss supplement nowadays.