What are the functions of pyruvate?

Pyruvate is generated at the end of glycolysis and is a key intermediate in various metabolic pathways such as gluconeogenesis, cellular respiration, fatty acid synthesis, and fermentation. Its primary function is to act as the transporter of carbon atoms into the mitochondrial matrix for complete oxidation into carbon dioxide. Pyruvate provides energy to living cells through the TCA cycle, after being converted to acetyl CoA. Acetyl CoA is also required for fatty acid synthesis, which is an essential process in many organisms used to generate phospholipids. Pyruvate can also be utilized in gluconeogenesis to be converted back to glucose if glucose synthesis is required. During fermentation in animals, pyruvate becomes converted into lactate using the enzyme lactate dehydrogenase and the coenzyme NADH in lactate fermentation. Ethanol fermentation is a two step process in which pyruvate is converted into carbon dioxide and acetaldehyde, and then converts acetaldehyde into ethanol and oxidizes NADH to NAD+.