Pyruvate

Pyruvate is a three-carbon molecular structure formed during the breakdown of carbohydrates and proteins in cells, as part of the process of glycolysis. This molecule is essential in many metabolic pathways, since it is the end product of the energy-yielding steps. Pyruvate can be further processed to produce energy and generate products of intermediary metabolism. It is also used in the production of ethanol, lactic acid, and other compounds. Furthermore, it is a critical regulator of redox balance in cells, involved in processes of cell growth and differentiation. Pyruvate is thus essential for the health and wellbeing of all living organisms, as it is involved in many of the processes that maintain life.