Yvette suffers from a rare sex linked disorder that manifests in a deficiency of one particular enzyme: pyruvate dehydrogenase. While she appeared relatively normal in infancy, by the age of 4 she exhibited seizures, poor coordination, and stunted neural development.

1.     What role does this enzyme play in metabolism?

2.     How does lacking this enzyme result in her symptoms?

3.     Would her blood pH be higher or lower than usual? Why?