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Definition

noun

A colorless, water-soluble, organic liquid produced by the breakdown of carbohydrates and sugars during glycolysis, and with a chemical formula of: CH₃COCO₂H.

Supplement

If oxygen is available, pyruvic acid is converted to acetyl coenzyme A that enters the energy-producing pathway, the Krebs cycle. If oxygen is lacking, pyruvic acid is converted to lactic acid.

This compound is also used in the body to synthesize alanine.

Word origin: PYR(O)– + Latin ūva, grape (from its being produced by the dry distillation of racemic acid, originally derived from grapes) + –IC.

Synonym: acetylformic acid, pyroracemic acid.
See also: pyruvate, glycolysis, cellular respiration.