Acetolactic acid explained

α-Acetolactic acid is a precursor in the biosynthesis of the branched chain amino acids valine and leucine. α-Acetolactic acid is produced from two molecules of pyruvic acid by acetolactate synthase. α-Acetolactic acid can also be decarboxylated by alpha-acetolactate decarboxylase to produce acetoin.^{[1] [2]} The name α-acetolactate is used for anion (conjugate base), salts, and esters of α-acetolactic acid.

Notes and References

1. Book: https://books.google.com/books?id=Q8B_WusVacsC&pg=PA185 . Carbohydrate Metabolism . 978-0-7514-0215-5 . 2 . The Lactic Acid Bacteria: The genera of lactic acid bacteria . Springer . 1995 . B. J. B. . Wood . W. H. . Holzapfel . 185–186.
2. Book: https://books.google.com/books?id=Sabnh9l76W0C&pg=PA283 . Applied dairy microbiology . CRC Press . 2001 . 978-0-8247-0536-7 . 110 of Food science and technology. A series of monographs . E. H. . Marth . J. L. . Steele . 283 . Genetics of Lactic acid bacteria.