Phosphoenolpyruvic Acid (potassium salt)

Phosphoenolpyruvic Acid (potassium salt) (CAS No.: 4265-07-0) is a high-energy endogenous metabolite that functions as a central intermediate in glycolysis and gluconeogenesis, serving as the potassium salt form of phosphoenolpyruvate with critical roles in cellular energy metabolism. In glycolysis, it is generated from 2-phosphoglycerate by enolase and subsequently converted to pyruvate by pyruvate kinase, a reaction that drives substrate-level phosphorylation and ATP production, while in gluconeogenesis it is regenerated from oxaloacetate via phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase in a GTP-dependent process. This compound is widely utilized in biochemical and metabolic research as a substrate and regulator of key enzymatic steps, particularly in studies investigating pyruvate kinase activity, metabolic flux, and energy homeostasis. Its involvement in pathways linked to cancer metabolism, diabetes, and other metabolic disorders makes it a valuable tool for probing altered glycolytic and anabolic processes, as well as for evaluating enzyme modulation and metabolic reprogramming. In addition to its metabolic roles, it has been reported to exhibit cytoprotective and antioxidative effects under energy-limited conditions, supporting its use in cellular stress and survival studies. While it does not act as a classical pharmacological inhibitor or receptor ligand, its functional impact is mediated through modulation of metabolic enzymes and pathways, with experimental applications typically employing concentrations in the micromolar to millimolar range depending on assay design. Phosphoenolpyruvic Acid (potassium salt) is therefore broadly applied in in vitro biochemical assays, cell-based metabolic studies, and related drug discovery efforts focused on targeting energy metabolism and associated signaling networks.