1. A coenzyme derived from thiamine (vitamin B1) that functions as a cofactor in enzymatic reactions involving the decarboxylation of pyruvate and other alpha-keto acids.
Usage: biochemistry; also called thiamine pyrophosphate (TPP); technical term

Examples

• Cocarboxylase is essential for the conversion of pyruvate to acetyl-CoA in cellular respiration.
• The enzyme pyruvate dehydrogenase requires cocarboxylase as a cofactor to function properly.
• Deficiency in thiamine leads to reduced cocarboxylase production and impaired energy metabolism.
• Cocarboxylase plays a critical role in the pentose phosphate pathway.
• Researchers studied how cocarboxylase binds to various decarboxylase enzymes.