Every day, without us noticing, our bodies perform a critical task: converting the sugars from our diet into energy. Fifty years after scientists first suspected how this process might work, researchers from the University of Cambridge have finally unravelled the detailed mechanism behind it. Their findings, published in the journal Science Advances, explain how a tiny molecular machine in our cells helps us create the fuel we need to live.
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A mitochondrion, the ‘powerhouse of the cell’ - (Image Credit: 3d_man via Shutterstock / HDR tune by Universal-Sci)
Unlocking the Gates of Cellular Powerhouses
The story begins inside tiny structures called mitochondria—often described as the 'powerhouses' of our cells. Mitochondria produce energy-rich molecules known as ATP, which power everything we do. But mitochondria are picky: they need a specific molecule called pyruvate, created from sugars, to make the maximum amount of ATP.
The challenge has always been how pyruvate moves into mitochondria through their impermeable inner membrane. Now, thanks to cutting-edge imaging techniques, scientists have visualized the molecular machine responsible: the mitochondrial pyruvate carrier. Researchers liken its operation to the locks on a canal, carefully controlling the flow of pyruvate into the mitochondria.
How Does a Tiny Molecular Lock Work?
Using cryo-electron microscopy—a technology that magnifies objects up to 165,000 times their original size—the Cambridge team revealed the detailed structure of this molecular carrier. Here's how it works: First, pyruvate enters through an outer "gate" that opens momentarily. Once pyruvate is inside, this gate closes, and a second inner gate opens, allowing pyruvate to safely pass into the mitochondrion. It's a finely tuned mechanism ensuring cells get exactly the energy supply they need.
Dr Sotiria Tavoulari, who played a crucial role in identifying this mechanism, explained, “This process enhances energy production by 15-fold, significantly boosting our cell's efficiency.”
Could Blocking This Gate Treat Disease?
Understanding this transport system isn’t just fascinating biology—it could also lead to important medical breakthroughs. Scientists believe that disrupting this molecular gate might help treat a variety of diseases, including diabetes, fatty liver disease, Parkinson's, certain cancers, and even hair loss.
For instance, some cancer cells depend heavily on pyruvate for their energy and create more pyruvate carriers to fuel their rapid growth. By blocking the carrier, researchers hope to starve these cancer cells, effectively slowing or stopping their growth. Similarly, in fatty liver disease, blocking pyruvate transport might encourage the body to burn stored fat instead.
Professor Edmund Kunji highlighted the practical potential, saying, “Electron microscopy helps us see precisely how drugs could jam this molecular carrier, offering us a powerful tool for developing targeted treatments. We now have exciting new avenues to design therapies that could reshape how mitochondria produce energy.”
As researchers continue to explore this cellular gatekeeper, its discovery after fifty years of investigation shows just how much remains to be uncovered within our own bodies. For more information about this particular study you can check out the paper published in the peer-reviewed journal Science Advances, listed below.
Sources, further reading and more interesting articles on the subject of Health, Mind & Brain:
Molecular basis of pyruvate transport and inhibition of the human mitochondrial pyruvate carrier - (Science Advances)
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Why Using Noise-Cancelling Too Often Can Be Bad for You - (Universal-Sci)
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