Oxalacetate decarboxylase plays a crucial role in metabolic pathways, particularly in the conversion of oxaloacetate to pyruvate. This enzyme is essential in certain bacteria for energy production, aiding in the decarboxylation process that helps generate ATP. In industrial applications, it is utilized in bioengineering and synthetic biology to optimize metabolic pathways for the production of biofuels and biochemicals. Additionally, its function is studied in research settings to understand metabolic disorders and develop potential therapeutic strategies targeting enzymatic pathways.