Mitochondrial Pyruvate ‍Carrier: Key Role in Energy Production Revealed

⁣ Updated ⁣June 21, 2025
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Cambridge, England – After a 50-year⁣ quest, researchers have mapped the structure of a ⁣crucial ⁢molecular machine,‍ the mitochondrial pyruvate ⁢carrier,‍ responsible for converting sugars into cellular fuel. ⁤The⁤ discovery, made by scientists at the Medical Research Council (MRC) mitochondrial⁣ Biology unit at the University of Cambridge, offers insights into energy production and potential treatments for diseases.

The mitochondrial pyruvate carrier, first theorized in 1971, acts as a ⁣gate, transporting pyruvate-a sugar derivative-into mitochondria, the cell’s powerhouses. Using cryo-electron microscopy, scientists magnified the carrier’s⁤ image 165,000 times to visualize its atomic structure. The findings were published in Science Advances.

Dr. Sotiria Tavoulari, a senior research associate at the University of⁢ Cambridge, explained the importance of pyruvate.”Sugars provide energy. Pyruvate, ⁣derived from broken-down sugars, ⁣needs to enter the mitochondria to maximize energy production, increasing ATP, the ⁣cellular ⁤fuel, 15-fold,” Tavoulari said.

maximilian Sichrovsky, a phd student at⁢ Hughes Hall, noted the complexity of ⁣the process. “Until now, the mechanism of pyruvate transport remained a mystery. Cryo-electron microscopy allowed us to visualize the transporter and understand its function. This understanding is crucial⁢ for developing ‍new therapies,” Sichrovsky said.

The process involves a ⁤two-membrane system. Pyruvate easily passes ⁢through the outer membrane, but the inner membrane requires the carrier. The carrier opens an outer gate for pyruvate entry, closes it, and then opens an inner gate to release pyruvate into the mitochondrion.

Professor Edmund Kunji, from the MRC Mitochondrial Biology Unit, likened the carrier’s function to canal locks. “A gate opens,⁢ a boat enters, the gate closes, and another gate opens for the boat to‍ exit smoothly,” kunji said.

The mitochondrial pyruvate carrier’s role ‍in energy production makes it a target ‍for drugs addressing conditions like diabetes, fatty liver disease, Parkinson’s disease, certain cancers, and even hair loss.

Blocking the carrier forces cells to use option ‍fuel sources, such as fats ‍or amino acids. In fatty liver disease, this could encourage the body to burn stored fat. ⁢similarly, some cancer cells rely on pyruvate; blocking⁤ the carrier could starve these⁣ cells.

Kunji added that inhibiting‍ the carrier might also reverse ⁤hair loss by promoting lactate production in⁤ follicle cells. “Drugs that inhibit the carrier can remodel ‍mitochondrial ⁢function, wich can be beneficial. Electron microscopy helps‍ us see how these drugs bind and disrupt the carrier, creating opportunities for targeted drug design,”‍ Kunji said.

What’s next

researchers plan to ⁣use ⁤this new ⁣structural understanding to design drugs ‍that ⁢can precisely target the mitochondrial pyruvate carrier, offering potential ⁢new treatments for a range of diseases.