Monocarboxylate Transporters (MCTs)

Monocarboxylate transporters (MCTs) are a family of proton-linked plasma membrane transporters that facilitate the movement of monocarboxylates across biological membranes. They are crucial for CNS drug delivery due to their ability to transport both endogenous metabolites and certain drugs across the blood-brain barrier and into brain cells. MCTs play essential roles in energy metabolism, neuroenergetics, and maintaining neuronal survival under metabolic stress. Specific isoforms like MCT1, MCT2, and MCT4 have distinct expression patterns and functions within the CNS. Targeting or exploiting MCT-mediated pathways presents a promising strategy for enhancing CNS drug penetration.

Other names

Solute Carrier Family 16 (SLC16)Proton-linked monocarboxylate transporters

Proton-coupled symport; some isoforms function as monocarboxylate exchangers.