- Melissa M Grant: School of Dentistry, Institute of Clinical Sciences, University of Birmingham, 5 Mill Pool Way, Edgbaston, Birmingham B5 7EG, UK. ORCID
Pyruvate kinase (PK) is the final and rate-limiting enzyme in glycolysis. It has four isoforms PKM1, PKM2, PKL and PKR. PK can form homo tetramers, dimers or monomers. The tetrameric form has the most catalytic activity; however, the dimeric form has non-canonical functions that contribute to the inflammatory response, wound healing and cellular crosstalk. This brief review explores these functions and speculates on their role in periodontal disease.