MenD was thought until recently to act as SHCHC synthase, but has recently been shown to act instead as SEPHCHC synthase. Conversion of SEPHCHC into SHCHC and pyruvate may occur spontaneously but is catalyzed efficiently, at least in some organisms, by MenH (see TIGR03695). 2-oxoglutarate decarboxylase/SHCHC synthase (menD) is a thiamine pyrophosphate enzyme involved in menaquinone biosynthesis. [Biosynthesis of cofactors, prosthetic groups, and carriers, Menaquinone and ubiquinone]