Research Topic · Peer-Reviewed

Pyruvate

Pyruvate is a three-carbon alpha-keto acid (the conjugate base of pyruvic acid) that occupies a central node in cellular energy metabolism. It is the end product of glycolysis, the cytosolic breakdown of glucose, and its subsequent fate determines how cells generate adenosine triphosphate. Under aerobic conditions, …

Curated from this journal's research 📚 12 peer-reviewed articles cited Cited 53× across the literature 🗓 Reviewed June 2026

Overview

Pyruvate is a three-carbon alpha-keto acid (the conjugate base of pyruvic acid) that occupies a central node in cellular energy metabolism. It is the end product of glycolysis, the cytosolic breakdown of glucose, and its subsequent fate determines how cells generate adenosine triphosphate. Under aerobic conditions, pyruvate is transported into mitochondria and oxidatively decarboxylated by the pyruvate dehydrogenase complex to acetyl-CoA, which enters the tricarboxylic acid cycle to fuel oxidative phosphorylation. Under hypoxic or highly glycolytic conditions, lactate dehydrogenase reduces pyruvate to lactate, regenerating NAD+ to sustain glycolytic flux; dysregulation of this branch underlies lactic acidosis and is reflected in elevated lactate dehydrogenase as a marker of tissue turnover and disease activity. Pyruvate also serves as a substrate for gluconeogenesis, transamination to alanine, and anaplerotic carboxylation to oxaloacetate. Its handling is reprogrammed in cancer, where altered metabolism and reliance on aerobic glycolysis make pyruvate fate a therapeutic and diagnostic interest, and it figures in metabolomic profiling of stressed and toxicant-exposed tissues. The journal publishes peer-reviewed research on cellular metabolism, including pyruvate and lactate handling, enzymatic regulation, and metabolic markers in physiology, toxicology, and disease.

Research published in this journal

12 peer-reviewed articles, ranked by relevance. Each links to its DOI.

How this research is being cited

The 12 articles above have been cited 53 times in the scholarly literature. Citation data via OpenAlex and Crossref, updated Jun 2026.

A sample of recent works citing this journal's research on Pyruvate, linking to each citing work.

Editorial oversight

Curated from peer-reviewed research published in Advanced Cytology.

Journal editorial board
Krzysztof Marycz · Poland MARIA VIOLETTA BRUNDO · Italy

This page summarises published research for orientation; it is not medical or professional advice.