3-Fumarylpyruvic acid, or 3-fumarylpyruvate, is a dicarboxylic acid formed from the isomerisation of 3-maleylpyruvate by maleylpyruvate isomerase. It is converted into fumaric and pyruvic acids by 3-fumarylpyruvate hydrolase.
3-Fumarylpyruvic acid is an intermediate in the metabolism of the amino acid tyrosine in some organisms. At an earlier stage, in the presence of the enzyme gentisate 1,2-dioxygenase and oxygen, gentisic acid undergoes a ring-opening reaction to give 3-maleylpyruvic acid: This is converted to its geometric isomer by the enzyme maleylpyruvate isomerase.
The metabolism of 3-fumarylpyruvic acid by the enzyme 3-fumarylpyruvate hydrolase involves its cleavage into fumaric and pyruvic acids.