alpha-ketodecarboxylase

α-ke·to·de·car·box·y·lase

(kē'tō-dē'kar-boks'i-lās), Formerly, the enzyme system converting pyruvate (a 2-oxoacid) to acetyl-CoA and CO2, with reduction of NAD+ to NADH and the participation of lipoamide and thiamin pyrophosphate; now known to involve at least three enzymes in succession: pyruvate dehydrogenase, dihydrolipoamide acetyltransferase, and dihydrolipoamide dehydrogenase. Compare: pyruvate dehydrogenase (lipoamide).