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Functional Properties of the Mitochondrial Carrier System
Journal article   Open access   Peer reviewed

Functional Properties of the Mitochondrial Carrier System

Eric B Taylor
Trends in cell biology, Vol.27(9), pp.633-644
09/2017
DOI: 10.1016/j.tcb.2017.04.004
PMCID: PMC5773108
PMID: 28522206
url
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tcb.2017.04.004View
Published (Version of record) Open Access

Abstract

The mitochondrial carrier system (MCS) transports small molecules between mitochondria and the cytoplasm. It is integral to the core mitochondrial function to regulate cellular chemistry by metabolism. The mammalian MCS comprises the transporters of the 53-member canonical SLC25A family and a lesser number of identified noncanonical transporters. The recent discovery and investigations of the mitochondrial pyruvate carrier (MPC) illustrate the diverse effects a single mitochondrial carrier may exert on cellular function. However, the transport selectivities of many carriers remain unknown, and most have not been functionally investigated in mammalian cells. The mechanisms coordinating their function as a unified system remain undefined. Increased accessibility to molecular genetic and metabolomic technologies now greatly enables investigation of the MCS. Continued investigation of the MCS may reveal how mitochondria encode complex regulatory information within chemical thermodynamic gradients. This understanding may enable precision modulation of cellular chemistry to counteract the dysmetabolism inherent in disease. Increased accessibility of metabolomics and molecular genetic technologies now greatly enables functional investigation of the mitochondrial carrier system. The mitochondrial pyruvate carrier regulates multiple dimensions of cellular biology including differentiation state, nutrient sensing, and mitochondrial substrate selection. The mitochondrial carrier system is functionally redundant at the individual carrier and systems-levels. The mitochondrial carrier system regulates cellular chemistry, including relative mitochondrial–cytosolic redox and nitrogen balances.
systems biology mitochondrial pyruvate carrier carrier redox cycles mitochondria transporter

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