Chemical Properties
white crystalline powder
Uses
Metabolic intermediate in many kinase reactions
General Description
Phospho(enol)pyruvic acid is a highly functionalized small molecule. It plays a major role in the metabolism.
Biochem/physiol Actions
Phospho(enol)pyruvic acid is significant in high-phosphate group-transfer function. PEP plays a major role in PEP:sugar phosphotransferase system (PTS) mediated phosphorylation and transport of carbohydrates across the bacterial membrane. It functions to generate natural phosphonates catalyzed by PEP mutase. It plays a key role in the peptidoglycan cell wall biosynthesis.
Purification Methods
Recrystallise it from aqueous Me2CO and dry it in a vacuum. At 4o it is stable for >2 years and has IR at 1721cm-1 (C=O). [Wold & Ballou J Biol Chem 227 301 1957, Clark & Kirby Biochemical Preparations 11 103 1966 for the monocyclohexylamine salt, Beilstein 12 IV 8.]
