Is a specific component of the pyruvate dehydrogenase (PDH) complex, that catalyzes the overall conversion of pyruvate to acetyl-CoA and CO(2). AceE has reductase activity with pyruvate but does not react with 2-oxoglutarate. (R)-N(6)-lipoyl-L-lysyl-[dihydrolipoyllysine-residue acetyltransferase] + H(+) + pyruvate = (R)-N(6)-(S(8)-acetyldihydrolipoyl)-L-lysyl-[dihydrolipoyllysine-residue acetyltransferase] + CO2 Homodimer (By similarity). Part of an unusual ODH/PDH supercomplex, consisting of AceE (E1), AceF (E2), and Lpd (E3) together with OdhA (E1+E2). Cells lacking this gene display no PDH activity.