"' ?-Acetolactic acid "'( "'?-acetolactate "') is a precursor in the biosynthesis of the branched chain amino acids valine and leucine . ?-Acetolactic acid is produced from two molecules of pyruvic acid by acetolactate synthase . ?-Acetolactic acid can also be decarboxylated by alpha-acetolactate decarboxylase to produce acetoin.
32.
Experimental research and computer modelling suggest that the surfaces of mineral particles inside hydrothermal vents have catalytic properties similar to those of enzymes and are able to create simple organic molecules, such as methanol ( CH 3 OH ) and pyruvic acid out of the dissolved CO 2 in the water.
33.
Pyruvic acid can be made from glucose through glycolysis, converted back to carbohydrates ( such as glucose ) via gluconeogenesis, or to fatty acids through a reaction with acetyl-CoA . It can also be used to construct the amino acid alanine and can be converted into ethanol or lactic acid via fermentation.
34.
The dismutation of pyruvic acid in other small organic molecules ( ethanol + CO 2, or lactate and acetate, depending on the environmental conditions ) is also an important step in acceptor of electrons in the redox reactions supplying the chemical energy in these complex biochemical systems are the same organic molecules simultaneously acting as reductant or oxidant.
35.
His other work included the isolation of glycolic acid from unripe grapes ( 1864 ), synthesis of sodium oxalate by heating sodium formate ( 1868 ), hydrolysis of ether to alcohol ( 1858 ), synthesis of phenyl-lactic acid ( 1880 ), preparation of pyruvic acid by the distillation of tartaric acid ( 1881 ) and the formation of carbostyril from quinoline ( 1885 ).
