Component

Human pyruvate dehydrogenase complex

Mitochondrial ensemble containing E1 (PDHA1/PDHB), E2 (DLAT), E3 (DLD), and PDHX; distinct from E1 alone.

7 recorded relationships. Experimental role, claim status and evidence remain attached to each record.

How nutrients influence it

Every nutrient with a recorded effect on this component, credited to the nutrient that acted rather than the chapter that recorded it. Open a nutrient to see the findings and the conditions they were measured under.

How nutrients reach it in more than one step

Chains of two or more recorded steps that end here, grouped by the nutrient they start from. Each step is a separate finding, so a chain is a route a mechanism could take, not proof that it does.

Tracing routes…

What it does

Every recorded relationship this component is part of, grouped by its role. Plain wording comes first; the technical statement follows.

Recorded relationships

What acts on it

  1. The LIAS Arg249His patient had depleted protein-bound lipoyl signal and reduced PDH activity/pyruvate oxidation in investigated muscle and fibroblast preparations.

    LIAS Arg249His → Human pyruvate dehydrogenase complex source_derived_draftungraded
    Experimental context and source evidence
    availability_state
    machinery_impairment Imported condition classification; unverified.
    cross_nutrient
    Endogenous lipoate synthesis is a separate requirement of the thiamine-dependent PDH pathway.
    evidence
    [{"paper_key": "mayr-2011-lias", "source_bundle": "artifacts/thiamine_metabolism_sources.json", "passage_ids": ["abstract"], "locator": "Primary publication abstract", "preservation": "Exact text retained in the source bundle; full source document retained when openly retrievable."}]
    experimental_model
    Patient biochemical analysis.
    limitations
    Single patient; no proof of thiamine-treatment failure mechanism.
    nutrient
    Thiamine (vitamin B1) · Thiamine (vitamin B1)
    nutrient_topic
    Thiamine research collection; topical membership is not evidence of a direct dietary effect. · Thiamine (vitamin B1)
    organism
    Homo sapiens
    plain_language
    A B1-dependent pathway can fail because its lipoyl machinery is defective. This case does not show that adding thiamine corrects the defect.
    primary_references
    [mayr-2011-lias] Lipoic acid synthetase deficiency causes neonatal-onset epilepsy, defective mitochondrial energy metabolism, and glycine elevation (2011). https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22152680/ DOI: 10.1016/j.ajhg.2011.11.011
    tissue_or_cell_type
    Muscle and cultured fibroblasts
    trigger_kind
    machinery_impairment Imported condition classification; unverified.

    Thiamine: mechanisms, deficiency and nutrient interactions (2026-09-17) · lines 759–771

    AI-assisted literature curation; primary study URLs and scope retained in the document and extraction. Not publisher full text. · supports · Patient biochemical analysis. · source_derived_draft · unverified_draft

    ### b1-lias-defect-reduces-pdh The LIAS Arg249His patient had depleted protein-bound lipoyl signal and reduced PDH activity/pyruvate oxidation in investigated muscle and fibroblast preparations. Condition category: machinery_impairment nutrient_topic: Thiamine research collection; topical membership is not evidence of a direct dietary effect. plain_language: A B1-dependent pathway can fail because its lipoyl machinery is defective. This case does not show that adding thiamine corrects the defect. organism: Homo sapiens tissue_or_cell_type: Muscle and cultured fibroblasts experimental_model: Patient biochemical analysis. limitations: Single patient; no proof of thiamine-treatment failure mechanism. evidence: [{"paper_key": "mayr-2011-lias", "source_bundle": "artifacts/thiamine_metabolism_sources.json", "passage_ids": ["abstract"], "locator": "Primary publication abstract", "preservation": "Exact text retained in the source bundle; full source document retained when openly retrievable."}] cross_nutrient: Endogenous lipoate synthesis is a separate requirement of the thiamine-dependent PDH pathway. nutrient: Thiamine (vitamin B1) [mayr-2011-lias] Lipoic acid synthetase deficiency causes neonatal-onset epilepsy, defective mitochondrial energy metabolism, and glycine elevation (2011). https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22152680/ DOI: 10.1016/j.ajhg.2011.11.011
    Complete structured claim and evidence
  2. In those LIPT1-deficient fibroblasts, PDH activity increased only moderately, OGDH showed no increase, and the leucine-flux assay showed no BCKDH rescue.

    Lipoic acid → Human pyruvate dehydrogenase complex source_derived_draftungraded
    Experimental context and source evidence
    availability_state
    machinery_impairment Imported condition classification; unverified.
    evidence_span
    {"source_cache": "artifacts/ala-research/24341803.fulltext.txt", "locator": "Exact primary full-text span; zero-based, end-exclusive Unicode character offsets", "file_sha256": "44f3fc89f065e58c1deb82f02c93a3654504f002fbc051d00a7703d3fbe6764b", "start_char": 19977, "end_char": 20689, "text_sha256": "3a495a2251965512793b341794c86b5caedc8525754344b8bba51281e7802a79"}
    experimental_model
    LIPT1 patient fibroblasts with supplementation and genetic complementation
    exposure
    Lipoic acid 10 or 100 micromolar for three weeks
    limitations
    Partial biochemical changes do not establish restored lipoylation or clinical efficacy. Historical pathway speculation is not imported as current enzymology.
    nutrient_topic
    Alpha-lipoic acid research collection; topical membership is not evidence of a direct dietary effect. · Lipoic acid
    organism
    Human
    plain_language
    A lower lactate measurement did not mean all affected enzyme systems were repaired.
    primary_references
    [ala-p24341803] Mutations in human lipoyltransferase gene LIPT1 cause a Leigh disease with secondary deficiency for pyruvate and alpha-ketoglutarate dehydrogenase. (2013). https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24341803/ DOI: 10.1186/1750-1172-8-192
    tissue_or_cell_type
    Patient and control fibroblasts
    trigger_kind
    machinery_impairment Imported condition classification; unverified.

    Alpha-lipoic acid: cofactor assembly, redox signaling and nutrient interactions (2026-09-17) · lines 494–505

    AI-assisted literature curation; primary study URLs and scope retained in the document and extraction. Not publisher full text. · supports · LIPT1 patient fibroblasts with supplementation and genetic complementation · source_derived_draft · unverified_draft

    ### ala-lipt1-enzyme-partial-response In those LIPT1-deficient fibroblasts, PDH activity increased only moderately, OGDH showed no increase, and the leucine-flux assay showed no BCKDH rescue. Condition category: machinery_impairment nutrient_topic: Alpha-lipoic acid research collection; topical membership is not evidence of a direct dietary effect. plain_language: A lower lactate measurement did not mean all affected enzyme systems were repaired. organism: Human tissue_or_cell_type: Patient and control fibroblasts experimental_model: LIPT1 patient fibroblasts with supplementation and genetic complementation limitations: Partial biochemical changes do not establish restored lipoylation or clinical efficacy. Historical pathway speculation is not imported as current enzymology. exposure: Lipoic acid 10 or 100 micromolar for three weeks evidence_span: {"source_cache": "artifacts/ala-research/24341803.fulltext.txt", "locator": "Exact primary full-text span; zero-based, end-exclusive Unicode character offsets", "file_sha256": "44f3fc89f065e58c1deb82f02c93a3654504f002fbc051d00a7703d3fbe6764b", "start_char": 19977, "end_char": 20689, "text_sha256": "3a495a2251965512793b341794c86b5caedc8525754344b8bba51281e7802a79"} [ala-p24341803] Mutations in human lipoyltransferase gene LIPT1 cause a Leigh disease with secondary deficiency for pyruvate and alpha-ketoglutarate dehydrogenase. (2013). https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24341803/ DOI: 10.1186/1750-1172-8-192
    Complete structured claim and evidence
  3. LIPT2-deficient fibroblasts had reduced PDH and OGDH activities, oxygen consumption and leucine catabolic flux.

    Experimental context and source evidence
    availability_state
    machinery_impairment Imported condition classification; unverified.
    evidence_span
    {"source_cache": "artifacts/ala-research/28757203.abstract.txt", "locator": "Exact primary indexed abstract; zero-based, end-exclusive Unicode character offsets", "file_sha256": "a03fbeaf7603f02004672c4068bb20fba9021a7662964565bafe62ccecb0ee1f", "start_char": 0, "end_char": 1639, "text_sha256": "a03fbeaf7603f02004672c4068bb20fba9021a7662964565bafe62ccecb0ee1f"}
    experimental_model
    Three affected children from two families and patient-derived fibroblasts
    exposure
    Biallelic LIPT2 variants; wild-type gene rescue and lipoic acid supplementation
    limitations
    Rare inherited disease; not evidence for common dietary lipoic-acid deficiency.
    nutrient_topic
    Alpha-lipoic acid research collection; topical membership is not evidence of a direct dietary effect. · Lipoic acid
    organism
    Human
    plain_language
    One early assembly failure disrupts carbohydrate and amino-acid processing.
    primary_references
    [ala-p28757203] Biallelic Mutations in LIPT2 Cause a Mitochondrial Lipoylation Defect Associated with Severe Neonatal Encephalopathy. (2017). https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28757203/ DOI: 10.1016/j.ajhg.2017.07.001
    tissue_or_cell_type
    Patient cells and clinical phenotype
    trigger_kind
    machinery_impairment Imported condition classification; unverified.

    Alpha-lipoic acid: cofactor assembly, redox signaling and nutrient interactions (2026-09-17) · lines 429–440

    AI-assisted literature curation; primary study URLs and scope retained in the document and extraction. Not publisher full text. · supports · Three affected children from two families and patient-derived fibroblasts · source_derived_draft · unverified_draft

    ### ala-lipt2-multienzyme-failure LIPT2-deficient fibroblasts had reduced PDH and OGDH activities, oxygen consumption and leucine catabolic flux. Condition category: machinery_impairment nutrient_topic: Alpha-lipoic acid research collection; topical membership is not evidence of a direct dietary effect. plain_language: One early assembly failure disrupts carbohydrate and amino-acid processing. organism: Human tissue_or_cell_type: Patient cells and clinical phenotype experimental_model: Three affected children from two families and patient-derived fibroblasts limitations: Rare inherited disease; not evidence for common dietary lipoic-acid deficiency. exposure: Biallelic LIPT2 variants; wild-type gene rescue and lipoic acid supplementation evidence_span: {"source_cache": "artifacts/ala-research/28757203.abstract.txt", "locator": "Exact primary indexed abstract; zero-based, end-exclusive Unicode character offsets", "file_sha256": "a03fbeaf7603f02004672c4068bb20fba9021a7662964565bafe62ccecb0ee1f", "start_char": 0, "end_char": 1639, "text_sha256": "a03fbeaf7603f02004672c4068bb20fba9021a7662964565bafe62ccecb0ee1f"} [ala-p28757203] Biallelic Mutations in LIPT2 Cause a Mitochondrial Lipoylation Defect Associated with Severe Neonatal Encephalopathy. (2017). https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28757203/ DOI: 10.1016/j.ajhg.2017.07.001
    Complete structured claim and evidence
  4. Lipoic acid supplementation did not improve the reported clinical course or restore deficient PDH, OGDH and leucine-catabolic function in LIPT2-deficient fibroblasts.

    Lipoic acid → Human pyruvate dehydrogenase complex source_derived_draftungraded
    Experimental context and source evidence
    availability_state
    machinery_impairment Imported condition classification; unverified.
    evidence_span
    {"source_cache": "artifacts/ala-research/28757203.abstract.txt", "locator": "Exact primary indexed abstract; zero-based, end-exclusive Unicode character offsets", "file_sha256": "a03fbeaf7603f02004672c4068bb20fba9021a7662964565bafe62ccecb0ee1f", "start_char": 0, "end_char": 1639, "text_sha256": "a03fbeaf7603f02004672c4068bb20fba9021a7662964565bafe62ccecb0ee1f"}
    experimental_model
    Three affected children from two families and patient-derived fibroblasts
    exposure
    Biallelic LIPT2 variants; wild-type gene rescue and lipoic acid supplementation
    limitations
    Rare inherited disease; not evidence for common dietary lipoic-acid deficiency.
    nutrient_topic
    Alpha-lipoic acid research collection; topical membership is not evidence of a direct dietary effect. · Lipoic acid
    organism
    Human
    plain_language
    More free lipoic acid did not bypass the broken assembly step.
    primary_references
    [ala-p28757203] Biallelic Mutations in LIPT2 Cause a Mitochondrial Lipoylation Defect Associated with Severe Neonatal Encephalopathy. (2017). https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28757203/ DOI: 10.1016/j.ajhg.2017.07.001
    tissue_or_cell_type
    Patient cells and clinical phenotype
    trigger_kind
    machinery_impairment Imported condition classification; unverified.

    Alpha-lipoic acid: cofactor assembly, redox signaling and nutrient interactions (2026-09-17) · lines 442–453

    AI-assisted literature curation; primary study URLs and scope retained in the document and extraction. Not publisher full text. · supports · Three affected children from two families and patient-derived fibroblasts · source_derived_draft · unverified_draft

    ### ala-lipt2-supplement-no-rescue Lipoic acid supplementation did not improve the reported clinical course or restore deficient PDH, OGDH and leucine-catabolic function in LIPT2-deficient fibroblasts. Condition category: machinery_impairment nutrient_topic: Alpha-lipoic acid research collection; topical membership is not evidence of a direct dietary effect. plain_language: More free lipoic acid did not bypass the broken assembly step. organism: Human tissue_or_cell_type: Patient cells and clinical phenotype experimental_model: Three affected children from two families and patient-derived fibroblasts limitations: Rare inherited disease; not evidence for common dietary lipoic-acid deficiency. exposure: Biallelic LIPT2 variants; wild-type gene rescue and lipoic acid supplementation evidence_span: {"source_cache": "artifacts/ala-research/28757203.abstract.txt", "locator": "Exact primary indexed abstract; zero-based, end-exclusive Unicode character offsets", "file_sha256": "a03fbeaf7603f02004672c4068bb20fba9021a7662964565bafe62ccecb0ee1f", "start_char": 0, "end_char": 1639, "text_sha256": "a03fbeaf7603f02004672c4068bb20fba9021a7662964565bafe62ccecb0ee1f"} [ala-p28757203] Biallelic Mutations in LIPT2 Cause a Mitochondrial Lipoylation Defect Associated with Severe Neonatal Encephalopathy. (2017). https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28757203/ DOI: 10.1016/j.ajhg.2017.07.001
    Complete structured claim and evidence

Where it participates (unsigned role)

  1. DLD protein abundance decreased in riboflavin-depleted human 143B cells, while many other mitochondrial matrix flavoproteins did not decline.

    Riboflavin (vitamin B2) → DLD source_derived_draftungraded
    Experimental context and source evidence
    availability_state
    nutrient_deficiency Imported condition classification; unverified.
    cross_nutrient
    Connects B2-dependent DLD abundance to the canonical B1-dependent mitochondrial complexes; this study does not demonstrate failure of thiamine treatment.
    evidence_spans
    [{"source_bundle": "artifacts/riboflavin_metabolism_sources.json", "source_key": "PMC10767280", "locator": "XML .//body//p", "paragraph_index": 58, "char_start": 0, "char_end": 905, "evidence_access": "full-text"}]
    experimental_model
    Human 143B cells and mouse adult fibroblasts, riboflavin-free medium and separate DPI interventions.
    exposure
    Riboflavin-free medium compared with matched replete medium.
    limitations
    No direct PDH/OGDH flux or thiamine-response experiment; selective loss must not be generalized to all flavoproteins.
    nutrient_topic
    Riboflavin research collection; topical membership is not evidence of a direct dietary effect. · Riboflavin (vitamin B2)
    organism
    Homo sapiens
    plain_language
    B2 withdrawal destabilized selected flavoproteins, including the shared DLD enzyme.
    primary_references
    [curtabbi-2024-fmn-assembly] Regulation of respiratory complex I assembly by FMN cofactor targeting (2024). https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38145589/ DOI: 10.1016/j.redox.2023.103001
    tissue_or_cell_type
    143B cell proteomics
    trigger_kind
    nutrient_deficiency Imported condition classification; unverified.

    Riboflavin: mechanisms, deficiency and nutrient interactions (2026-09-17) · lines 622–634

    AI-assisted literature curation; primary study URLs and scope retained in the document and extraction. Not publisher full text. · supports · Human 143B cells and mouse adult fibroblasts, riboflavin-free medium and separate DPI interventions. · source_derived_draft · unverified_draft

    ### b2-met-depletion-dld DLD protein abundance decreased in riboflavin-depleted human 143B cells, while many other mitochondrial matrix flavoproteins did not decline. Condition category: nutrient_deficiency nutrient_topic: Riboflavin research collection; topical membership is not evidence of a direct dietary effect. plain_language: B2 withdrawal destabilized selected flavoproteins, including the shared DLD enzyme. organism: Homo sapiens tissue_or_cell_type: 143B cell proteomics experimental_model: Human 143B cells and mouse adult fibroblasts, riboflavin-free medium and separate DPI interventions. limitations: No direct PDH/OGDH flux or thiamine-response experiment; selective loss must not be generalized to all flavoproteins. exposure: Riboflavin-free medium compared with matched replete medium. cross_nutrient: Connects B2-dependent DLD abundance to the canonical B1-dependent mitochondrial complexes; this study does not demonstrate failure of thiamine treatment. evidence_spans: [{"source_bundle": "artifacts/riboflavin_metabolism_sources.json", "source_key": "PMC10767280", "locator": "XML .//body//p", "paragraph_index": 58, "char_start": 0, "char_end": 905, "evidence_access": "full-text"}] [curtabbi-2024-fmn-assembly] Regulation of respiratory complex I assembly by FMN cofactor targeting (2024). https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38145589/ DOI: 10.1016/j.redox.2023.103001
    Complete structured claim and evidence
  2. Acetate infusion increased muscle acetyl-CoA, citrate and acetylcarnitine, and resting active-form pyruvate dehydrogenase declined during 20 minutes of acetate infusion from 0.37 to 0.16 mmol per minute per kg wet weight, coinciding with an elevation in the acetyl-CoA to free CoA ratio from 0.28 to 0.73, whereas after the bicarbonate control infusion resting activity was similar to that before acetate.

    Experimental context and source evidence
    evidence_span
    {"source_cache": "artifacts/acetate-research/7762627.abstract.txt", "locator": "Indexed abstract; zero-based, end-exclusive Unicode character offsets", "file_sha256": "343ba052925b754982d178cee1a1c2e3e0a3d1e940e6dd349989c7d6c2704f76", "start_char": 0, "end_char": 1730, "text_sha256": "343ba052925b754982d178cee1a1c2e3e0a3d1e940e6dd349989c7d6c2704f76"}
    experimental_model
    Eight human subjects infused with sodium acetate at rest and during cycling, with muscle biopsies
    exposure
    400 mmol sodium acetate infused over 20 min rest, 5 min cycling at 40% and 15 min at 80% of maximal oxygen uptake, against a 400 mmol sodium bicarbonate control two weeks later
    limitations
    A direct human measurement with a matched sodium control. The effect was present at rest and absent during exercise, so it is not a general property of raised acetate.
    nutrient_topic
    Acetic acid research collection; topical membership is not evidence of a direct clinical effect, and the ingested acid is recorded separately from the circulating acetate anion. · Acetic acid
    organism
    Human
    plain_language
    Raising blood acetate in people switched down the enzyme that commits glucose to being burned.
    primary_references
    [acetate-p7762627] Skeletal muscle pyruvate dehydrogenase activity during acetate infusion in humans. (1995). https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/7762627/ DOI: 10.1152/ajpendo.1995.268.5.e1007
    tissue_or_cell_type
    Skeletal muscle

    Acetic acid: the ingested acid, the receptors acetate binds, the acetyl-CoA it becomes, and the acetyl groups that reach histones (2026-09-21) · lines 485–496

    AI-assisted literature curation; primary study URLs and scope retained in the document and extraction. Not publisher full text. · supports · Eight human subjects infused with sodium acetate at rest and during cycling, with muscle biopsies · source_derived_draft · unverified_draft

    ### acetate-acetate-suppresses-pdh Acetate infusion increased muscle acetyl-CoA, citrate and acetylcarnitine, and resting active-form pyruvate dehydrogenase declined during 20 minutes of acetate infusion from 0.37 to 0.16 mmol per minute per kg wet weight, coinciding with an elevation in the acetyl-CoA to free CoA ratio from 0.28 to 0.73, whereas after the bicarbonate control infusion resting activity was similar to that before acetate. Condition category: normal nutrient_topic: Acetic acid research collection; topical membership is not evidence of a direct clinical effect, and the ingested acid is recorded separately from the circulating acetate anion. plain_language: Raising blood acetate in people switched down the enzyme that commits glucose to being burned. organism: Human tissue_or_cell_type: Skeletal muscle experimental_model: Eight human subjects infused with sodium acetate at rest and during cycling, with muscle biopsies limitations: A direct human measurement with a matched sodium control. The effect was present at rest and absent during exercise, so it is not a general property of raised acetate. exposure: 400 mmol sodium acetate infused over 20 min rest, 5 min cycling at 40% and 15 min at 80% of maximal oxygen uptake, against a 400 mmol sodium bicarbonate control two weeks later evidence_span: {"source_cache": "artifacts/acetate-research/7762627.abstract.txt", "locator": "Indexed abstract; zero-based, end-exclusive Unicode character offsets", "file_sha256": "343ba052925b754982d178cee1a1c2e3e0a3d1e940e6dd349989c7d6c2704f76", "start_char": 0, "end_char": 1730, "text_sha256": "343ba052925b754982d178cee1a1c2e3e0a3d1e940e6dd349989c7d6c2704f76"} [acetate-p7762627] Skeletal muscle pyruvate dehydrogenase activity during acetate infusion in humans. (1995). https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/7762627/ DOI: 10.1152/ajpendo.1995.268.5.e1007
    Complete structured claim and evidence
  3. Muscle PDK4 expression increased 13-fold, alongside greater inhibitory PDH phosphorylation.

    Experimental context and source evidence
    evidence_access
    Primary abstract
    experimental_model
    Thirteen adults; seven-day fast, muscle biopsies and exercise testing.
    limitations
    Co-occurrence supports the pathway interpretation but does not isolate causality.
    nutrient_topic
    Fasting physiological-state collection; human protocols, cellular deprivation and refeeding are distinguished. · Fasting / abstention from energy intake
    plain_language
    Muscle reduced access from carbohydrate into oxidation.
    primary_references
    Effects of seven days' fasting on physical performance and metabolic adaptation during exercise in humans. · 2025 · https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39747857/ · DOI 10.1038/s41467-024-55418-0

    Fasting: fuel switching, nutrient sensing, ketone signaling, nutrient dependencies and refeeding (2026-09-18) · lines 176–182

    AI-assisted research curation; primary-abstract references and experimental limitations individually identified. Not publisher full text. · supports · Thirteen adults; seven-day fast, muscle biopsies and exercise testing. · source_derived_draft · unverified_draft

    ## fast-pdk4 Muscle reduced access from carbohydrate into oxidation. Muscle PDK4 expression increased 13-fold, alongside greater inhibitory PDH phosphorylation. Model: Thirteen adults; seven-day fast, muscle biopsies and exercise testing. Limitations: Co-occurrence supports the pathway interpretation but does not isolate causality. Evidence access: Primary abstract Effects of seven days' fasting on physical performance and metabolic adaptation during exercise in humans. · 2025 · https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39747857/ · DOI 10.1038/s41467-024-55418-0
    Complete structured claim and evidence

In the sources

Preserved passages that mention this component, quoted exactly. Open one to read it in context.

    This is a research prototype built from draft material. It is not medical advice, and its statements still await verification against the original studies.

    Evidence, AI assistance and curation standards