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Pyruvic Acid, a Unique Component of an Exocellular Bacterial Polysaccharide

Nature volume 194, pages 478–479 (1962)Cite this article

Abstract

PYRUVIC acid, a compound widely distributed in Nature as a metabolic intermediate, is a building unit for many compounds of biological origin. For example, in the biosynthesis of sialic acid—a carbohydrate associated with mucoproteins in animals—pyruvic acid is combined enzymatically with N-acetyl mannosamine by an aldol-type condensation1,2. Muramic acid—a carbohydrate constituent of bacterial cell walls—is thought to arise from a condensation of pyruvic acid, as phosphoenol pyruvate, with N-acetyl glucosamine3. Also, pyruvic acid has been isolated and identified as a component of a commercial red seaweed polysaccharide. Structural studies indicate the presence of one acid residue for each 51 hexose units4,5.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Northern Regional Research Laboratory, Northern Utilization Research and Development Division, Agricultural Research Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Peoria, Illinois

    J. H. SLONEKER & DANUTE G. ORENTAS

Authors
  1. J. H. SLONEKER
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  2. DANUTE G. ORENTAS
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SLONEKER, J., ORENTAS, D. Pyruvic Acid, a Unique Component of an Exocellular Bacterial Polysaccharide. Nature 194, 478–479 (1962). https://doi.org/10.1038/194478a0

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