For over five decades, scientists have been trying to understand how cells generate energy from sugar. Now, researchers at the Medical Research Council (MRC) Mitochondrial Biology Unit at the University of Cambridge have finally visualized the detailed structure and function of a long-theorized molecular machine in our mitochondria – the mitochondrial pyruvate carrier.
The carrier controls how cells fuel themselves by transporting pyruvate, a key energy source, across mitochondrial membranes. This process is essential for life, as pyruvate is produced when our bodies break down sugars and plays a crucial role in energy production.
Using cryo-electron microscopy, scientists have been able to visualize the carrier’s lock-like mechanism at the atomic level. The findings suggest that the carrier works like a canal lock, where an outer gate opens, allowing pyruvate to enter, then closes, and an inner gate opens, allowing the molecule to pass through into the mitochondrion.
The discovery is significant because it reveals how the mitochondrial pyruvate carrier can be blocked or modified to reroute energy production in cells. This could lead to new treatments for diseases such as cancer, diabetes, and even hair loss. By targeting this gateway, researchers believe we could develop powerful, targeted therapies that would starve cancer cells of the energy they need to survive.
The study’s findings also suggest that blocking or modifying the pyruvate carrier could encourage the body to use alternative energy sources, such as fats stored in the liver or amino acids from proteins. This could be beneficial for conditions like fatty liver disease and Parkinson’s disease.
Overall, this breakthrough discovery provides a molecular blueprint for designing new drugs that target the mitochondrial pyruvate carrier. It offers promising opportunities for developing targeted therapies that can specifically address various diseases.
Source: https://scitechdaily.com/this-tiny-cellular-gate-could-be-the-key-to-curing-cancer-and-regrowing-hair