What is pyruvic acid?
Q: What is pyruvic acid?
A: Pyruvic acid is the simplest of the keto acids, with a carboxylic acid and a ketone functional group. Its conjugate base, pyruvate, is an important part of several metabolic chemical reactions.
Q: How can pyruvic acid be made?
A: Pyruvic acid can be made from glucose through glycolysis. One molecule of glucose breaks down into two molecules of pyruvate.
Q: What are some uses for pyruvic acid?
A: Pyruvic acid gives energy to cells through the citric acid cycle when oxygen is present (aerobic respiration), and also makes lactate when oxygen is lacking (fermentation). It can also be used to make the amino acid alanine and can be converted into ethanol or lactic acid by fermentation.
Q: How does gluconeogenesis relate to pyruvate?
A: Gluconeogenesis is a metabolic chemical reaction that converts pyruvate back into carbohydrates such as glucose.
Q: How does fatty acids relate to pyruvate?
A: Fatty acids can be produced from a similar reaction as gluconeogenesis that involves converting pyruvate into fatty acids.
