Methylglyoxal, also known as pyruvaldehyde, is a cytotoxic compound derived from pyruvic acid. In E. coli, there are at least eight pathways that are responsible for the detoxification of methylglyoxal. The first reaction in this pathway is the reduction of pyruvaldehyde to (S)-lactaldehyde, along with the cofactor NADH, catalyzed by 2,5-diketo-D-gluconic acid reductase subunits A and B. Following this, (S)-lactaldehyde is dehydrogenated into L-lactic acid by the lactaldehyde dehydrogenase enzyme, also using NAD as a cofactor. Finally, L-lactic acid is converted to pyruvic acid by L-lactate dehydrogenase in a reaction involving the reduction of an electron acceptor. Pyruvic acid is then used in glycolysis and pyruvate dehydrogenase pathways.

Methylglyoxal Degradation IV References