Microbial production of pyruvate and metabolites derived from pyruvate in cells exhibiting reduced pyruvate dehydrogenase activity compared to wildtype cells.

The methods comprise culturing a pyruvate-producing microorganism in a culture medium under conditions such that pyruvate is excreted and accumulates extracellularly, resulting in a pyruvate-enriched medium.

The present invention relates to the characterization of a novel isolated and purified mitochondrial Pyruvate carrier (MFC) family capable of transporting Pyruvate into mitochondria.

· Process involves shuttling pyruvate molecules into mitochondrion

Cells in the cell mass contain endogenous pyruvate decarboxylase.

Benzaldehyde and a source of pyruvate are reacted in an aqueous medium in the presence of the immobilized cell mass.

Most differentiated cells convert glucose to pyruvate in the cytosol through glycolysis, followed by pyruvate oxidation in the mitochondria.

A flavoprotein that catalyzes the formation of acetolactate from 2 moles of pyruvate in the biosynthesis of valine and the formation of acetohydroxybutyrate from pyruvate and alpha-ketobutyrate in the biosynthesis of isoleucine.

Step 2: Glucose is then turned into pyruvate in a 10-step chemical chain reaction.

Step 2: This glucose is turned into pyruvate in a chain reaction which consists of 10 steps.

For example, accumulation of pyruvate in the prostate could be an early indication of prostate cancer.

Because the continued processing of the pyruvate in the mitochondria is not possible, this is converted into lactic acid (lactate) instead.

The researchers thus subjected the cells to a treatment which induces an increase of pyruvate in the cytoplasm.

2nd Step: Glucose is converted into pyruvate in a 10-step chemical chain reaction.

Methods are provided for administering an agent or combination of agents to an obese individual to alter the flux of pyruvate in an adipocyte.