This reaction is catalysed by the enzyme pyruvate-formate lyase (PFL), which plays an important role in regulating anaerobic fermentation in E. coli.
ðɪs ɹɪˈækʃən ɪz kˈæɾɐlˌaɪzd baɪ ðɪ ˈɛnzaɪm pˈaɪɹuːvˌeɪtfˈɔːɹmeɪt lˈaɪeɪs pˌiːˌɛfˈɛl, wˌɪtʃ plˈeɪz ɐn ɪmpˈoːɹtənt ɹˈoʊl ɪn ɹˈɛɡjʊlˌeɪɾɪŋ ˌænɛɹˈoʊbɪk fɜːməntˈeɪʃən ɪn ˈiː. kˈoʊli.