Pyruvate metabolism (encompassing enzymes like pyruvate kinase, pyruvate dehydrogenase, pyruvate carboxylase, and lactate dehydrogenase) (null)

The **pyruvate metabolism pathway** describes the set of biochemical reactions converting pyruvate—a product of glycolysis—into acetyl-CoA (entering the Krebs cycle), lactate (via fermentation), oxaloacetate (for gluconeogenesis), or alanine. These processes are regulated by multiple enzymes including pyruvate kinase, pyruvate dehydrogenase complex, pyruvate carboxylase, and lactate dehydrogenase, as well as transporters like the mitochondrial pyruvate carrier and monocarboxylate transporters. Therapeutic interest focuses on key regulatory components such as pyruvate dehydrogenase kinase, mitochondrial pyruvate carrier, and pyruvate carboxylase, whose altered activity is implicated in cancer, cardiovascular disease, metabolic disorders, and lactic acidosis. Drugs targeting these enzymes (e.g., dichloroacetate for PDK inhibition, UK-5099 for carrier inhibition) are used in research and clinical trials for metabolic modulation[4][5][6][8].

Other names

Pyruvate pathwayGlycolytic pyruvate pathwayPyruvate metabolic pathway

Inhibition of pyruvate dehydrogenase kinase (restores pyruvate dehydrogenase activity; maintains oxidative phosphorylation); Inhibition of mitochondrial pyruvate carrier (blocks pyruvate mitochondrial entry); Targeting pyruvate carboxylase (reduces anaplerosis, sensitizing leukemia stem cells).