Pyruvate Dehydrogenase Alpha 2 (PDHa2)

The pyruvate dehydrogenase (PDH) complex converts pyruvate to acetyl CoA, an essential step in aerobic glucose metabolism. Dahl et al. (1990) extended their previous work on the gene for the E1-alpha subunit of this complex, expressed in somatic tissues and located on band Xp22.1. Using the probe for the X-linked gene, they found significant in situ hybridization with an autosomal locus, PDHA2, located on 4q22-q23. Mapping of the gene to chromosome 4 was also done by isolation of the gene from a chromosome 4-specific genomic library. Dahl et al. (1990) found that the gene on chromosome 4 is testis-specific. It has 84% nucleotide sequence similarity with the X-chromosomal cDNA and is expressed in postmeiotic spermatogenic cells. It lacks introns and has characteristics of a functional processed gene.