Pyruvate dehydrogenase complex works on pyruvate to produce Acetyl-CoA.

The requirements are: pyruvate, SH-Coa, NAD+

Cofactors of the complex: E1-TPP, E2-LIPOYL RING, E3-FAD

The pyruvate dehydrogenase enzyme complex (PDH)

The three main components — fatty acids, amino acids, and carbohydrates, can all be transformed into Acetyl-CoA.

When glucose is converted into pyruvate the pyruvate dehydrogenase enzyme complex (PDH) will form Acetyl-CoA. The enzyme complex in which three components are found, participating in the production of Acetyl-CoA (Figure 1):

  1. Pyruvate dehydrogenase (E1)
  2. Dehydrolipoyl transacetylase (E2)
  3. Dehydrolipoyl dehydrogenase (E3)
Figure 1. PDH complex and its features 

Functions

  • The first enzyme will grab the pyruvate and take the hydrogen away (dehydrogenase activity)
  • The second one changes the structures of this lipoyl ring (transacetylation activity)
  • The third one will “play” with hydrogen — (dehydrogenase activity)

If we take the hydrogen, we need an acceptor molecule for it, and

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