Mitochondrial Pyruvate Carrier (MPC)

The mitochondrial pyruvate carrier (MPC) is a protein complex located in the inner mitochondrial membrane that transports pyruvate, generated from glycolysis in the cytosol, into the mitochondrial matrix. This transport step is essential for linking cytosolic and mitochondrial metabolism, enabling pyruvate to enter pathways such as the tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle for energy production and biosynthesis. The functional MPC complex consists of two small homologous membrane proteins: MPC1 and MPC2, which form a heterodimer. MPC regulates whether cells favor oxidative or glycolytic metabolism and plays critical roles across various physiological contexts, including embryonic development, immune cell activation, cancer cell stemness, and dopamine synthesis.

Inhibition of pyruvate transport into mitochondria