Tags: Enzyme.
Pyruvate decarboxylase is a homotetrameric enzyme (EC 4.1.1.1) that catalyses the decarboxylation of pyruvic acid to acetaldehyde and carbon dioxide in the cytoplasm of prokaryotes and in the mitochondria of eukaryotes. It is also called 2-oxo-acid carboxylase alpha-ketoacid carboxylase and pyruvic decarboxylase. In anaerobic conditions this enzyme is part of the fermentation process that occurs in yeast especially of the Saccharomyces genus to produce ethanol by fermentation.
