Definition for Pyruvic acid

Pyruvate kinase

Pythagorean diet

Pyruvic acid (CH₃COCOOH) is an organic acid, a ketone, as well the simplest of the alpha-keto acids. The carboxylate (COOH) ion (anion) of pyruvic acid, CH₃COCOO-, is known as pyruvate, and is a key intersection in several metabolic pathways. It can be made from glucose through glycolysis, supplies energy to living cells in the citric acid cycle (also known as the Krebs cycle), and can also be converted to carbohydrates via gluconeogenesis, to fatty acids or energy through acetyl-CoA, to the amino acid alanine and to ethanol.