Methyl pyruvate is a compound used in stimulus-secretion coupling. Studies indicate that Methyl pyruvate increases free calcium ion concentration in the cytosol of pancreatic cells. In addition, it is believed that Methyl pyruvate stimulates the production of ATP, which is supported by the fact that Methyl pyruvate depolarizes mitochondrial membrane potential, similar to glucose. Studies on Jurkat T-lymphocyte mitochondria show that Methyl pyruvate directly inhibits cation current across the membrane, which sμggests that this compound is not a mitochondrial substrate. Furthermore, the inhibition of the K(ATP) channels mediates the induction of electrical activity in pancreatic β cells.A compound used in stimulus-secretion coupling Description: Methyl pyruvate is a pyruvic ester. Surface conditions during Pt/silica EUROPT-1 modified by cinchonidine catalyzed by enantioselective hydrogenation of methyl pyruvate to R-(+)-methyl lactate were investigated. Enantioselective hydrogenation of methyl pyruvate over finely dispersed polyvinylpyrrolidone-stabilized and the corresponding alumina-supported iridium clusters modified with cinchonidine was studied. The molecular orientation and conformation of methyl pyruvate on Ni(111) surface has been investigated in the temperature range 105-220K. Methyl pyruvate is reported to stimulate insulin secretion in vitro and in vivo. Application: Methyl pyruvate may be used to investigate the adsorption and reactivity of methyl pyruvate on Pt{111}. It may be used in the preparation of dimethyl 2,3-dimethylenebutanedioate.