Members of this protein family are the alpha subunit of the E1 component of pyruvate dehydrogenase (PDH) [1]. This entry represents one branch of a larger family that E1-alpha proteins from 2-oxoisovalerate dehydrogenase, acetoin dehydrogenase, another PDH clade. PDH is a heterodimer of an alpha and a beta subunit. The pyruvate dehydrogenase complex catalyses the overall conversion of pyruvate to acetyl-CoA and carbon dioxide. It contains multiple copies of three enzymatic components: pyruvate dehydrogenase (E1), dihydrolipoamide acetyltransferase (E2) and lipoamide dehydrogenase (E3). The Bacillus subtilis PDH complex possesses also branched-chain 2-oxoacid dehydrogenase (BCDH) activity.
Hawkins CF, Borges A, Perham RN.
Cloning and sequence analysis of the genes encoding the alpha and beta subunits of the E1 component of the pyruvate dehydrogenase multienzyme complex of Bacillus stearothermophilus.
Eur. J. Biochem. 191 337-46 1990
[PubMed: 2200674] http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1432-1033.1990.tb19128.x
Lessard IA, Perham RN.
Expression in Escherichia coli of genes encoding the E1 alpha and E1 beta subunits of the pyruvate dehydrogenase complex of Bacillus stearothermophilus and assembly of a functional E1 component (alpha 2 beta 2) in vitro.
J. Biol. Chem. 269 1994 10378-83
[PubMed: 8144620]