Pyruvate
Pyruvate
Pyruvate (pronounced: py-roo-vate) is a key molecule in the metabolic pathway of cells. It is the end product of glycolysis and can be used to create energy in the form of ATP through the citric acid cycle, or it can be converted into lactate under anaerobic conditions.
Etymology
The term "Pyruvate" is derived from the Greek word "pyr", meaning fire, and the Latin "uvatus", meaning grape. This is because pyruvate is a product of the fermentation of sugar in grapes.
Biochemical Role
Pyruvate plays a crucial role in several biochemical pathways. It is the output of the glycolysis pathway, where one molecule of glucose is broken down into two molecules of pyruvate. This process also produces ATP, the cell's main source of energy.
In the presence of oxygen, pyruvate can be further broken down in the mitochondria via the citric acid cycle (also known as the Krebs cycle or the tricarboxylic acid cycle) to produce even more ATP.
In the absence of oxygen, such as during intense exercise, pyruvate is converted into lactate in a process called lactic acid fermentation. This allows the cell to continue producing ATP even under anaerobic conditions.
Related Terms
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Pyruvate
- Wikipedia's article - Pyruvate
This WikiMD dictionary article is a stub. You can help make it a full article.
Languages: - East Asian
中文,
日本,
한국어,
South Asian
हिन्दी,
Urdu,
বাংলা,
తెలుగు,
தமிழ்,
ಕನ್ನಡ,
Southeast Asian
Indonesian,
Vietnamese,
Thai,
မြန်မာဘာသာ,
European
español,
Deutsch,
français,
русский,
português do Brasil,
Italian,
polski