The metabolism of pyruvate begins with its biosynthesis which can happen through 5 different sets of reactions. A) Lactaldehyde reacts with an NADPH dependent methylglyoxal reductase results in the release of a pyruvaldehyde. Pyruvaldehyde reacts with glutathione through a lactylglutathione lyase resulting in the release of s-lactoylglutathione. The latter compound then reacts with water through a hydroxyacylglutathione hydrolase resulting in the release of glutathione and D-lactic acid. Lactic acid then reacts with a ferricytochrome c through a D-lactate dehydrogenase resulting in the release of ferrocytochrome c, a hydrogen ion and pyruvic acid. B) L-lactic acid reacts with a ferricytochrome c through a L-lactate dehydrogenase resulting in the release of ferrocytochrome c, a hydrogen ion and pyruvic acid. C)Phosphoenolpyruvic acid reacts with an ADP through pyruvate kinase II resulting in the release of pyruvic acid. D)Phosphoenolpyruvic acid reacts in a reversible reaction with an ADP or ATP driven phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase resulting in the release of oxalacetic acid which reacts with ADP driven pyruvate carboxylase resulting in the release of pyruvic acid. E)L-malic acid reacts in a reversible reaction through NAD driven malate dehydrogenase resulting in the release of pyruvic acid. Pyruvic acid is degraded through 2 sets of reactions a)Pyruvic acid reacts with a pyruvate decarboxylase resulting in the release of acetaldehyde. This compound then reacts with alcohol dehydrogenase resulting in the release of ethanol b)Pyruvic acid reacts with a Pyruvate dehydrogenase complex resulting in the release of 2-(a-Hydroxyethyl)thiamine diphosphate. The latter compound reacts with a Pyruvate dehydrogenase complex resulting in the release of S-Acetyldihydrolipoamide-E reacts with a Pyruvate dehydrogenase complex resulting in the release of acetyl-CoA. Acetyl CoA can then be metabolized through different reactions to produce the resulting acetate, acetyl adenylate, isopropylmalic acid acetoacetyl coa, malonyl coa or homocitric acid

Pyruvate Metabolism References