Skip to main content

Thank you for visiting nature.com. You are using a browser version with limited support for CSS. To obtain the best experience, we recommend you use a more up to date browser (or turn off compatibility mode in Internet Explorer). In the meantime, to ensure continued support, we are displaying the site without styles and JavaScript.

  • Letter
  • Published:

Structure of Pyruvate in Aqueous Solution

Abstract

IN a recent publication and its addendum by Dickens and Williamson and by Bellamy and Williams1, it was reported that the infra-red spectra of lithium pyruvate and hydroxypyruvate in the solid state show no ketonic carbonyl peak, and it was suggested that these compounds exist as the hydrate, RCH2C(OH)2COO−Li+, in the solid and in aqueous solution and that this hydrate may be the substrate for the enzymatic reduction of pyruvate to lactate at neutral pH.

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution

Access options

Buy this article

Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Dickens, F., and Williamson, D. H., Biochem. J., 68, 74 (1958). Bellamy, L. J., and Williams, R. L., ibid., 68, 81 (1958).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. Errera, M., and Greenstein, J. P., Arch. Biochem., 14, 477 (1947).

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. Green, D. E., Leloir, L. F., and Nocito, V., J. Biol. Chem., 161, 563 (1945).

    Google Scholar 

  4. Bielecki, J., and Henri, V., Chem. Ber., 47, 1713 (1914).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  5. Matsen, F. A., in “Chemical Applications of Spectroscopy”, edit. by West, W., 661 (Intersci. Pub., New York, 1956).

    Google Scholar 

  6. McDaniel, D. H., and Brown, H. C., J. Org. Chem., 23, 420 (1958).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. Loewus, F. A., Ofner, P., Fisher, H. F., Westheimer, F. H., and Vennesland, B., J. Biol. Chem., 202, 699 (1953). Abeles, R. H., Hutton, R. F., and Westheimer, F. H., J. Amer. Chem. Soc., 79, 712 (1957).

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

JENCKS, W., CARRIUOLO, J. Structure of Pyruvate in Aqueous Solution. Nature 182, 598–599 (1958). https://doi.org/10.1038/182598b0

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/182598b0

Comments

By submitting a comment you agree to abide by our Terms and Community Guidelines. If you find something abusive or that does not comply with our terms or guidelines please flag it as inappropriate.

Search

Quick links

Nature Briefing

Sign up for the Nature Briefing newsletter — what matters in science, free to your inbox daily.

Get the most important science stories of the day, free in your inbox. Sign up for Nature Briefing