Expression of mitochondrial pyruvate carrier in different metabolic conditions in HepG2 and HEK 293 cells.

Mitochondrial import of pyruvate is a central step which links cytosolic and mitochondrial intermediary metabolism and determines whether glycolysis is followed by mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation, or by lactic fermentation. Genes encoding mitochondrial pyruvate carrier (MPC), a heteroligomeric complex composed of MPC1 and MPC2 subunits, were identified 1, 2. Lower level of MPC protein expression has been correlated to poor survival in diverse types of tumors [3] and to higher expression of the stem cell markers [4]. In order to further explore the role of MPC in metabolism of cells, we evaluated correlations between growth with different fuels and the expression of both subunits of this transporter in HEK293 and HepG2 cell lines. In particular, we investigated the relationship between MPC activity and histone acetylation levels. Our results suggest that modulation of MPC expression is involved in the metabolic reprogramming of cells. References 1. Bricker DK, et al. Science, 2012, 337:96-100. 2. Herzing S., et al. Science, 2012, 337:93-96. 3. Schell JC, et al. Mol Cell. 2014; 56: 400-13 4. Zhong Y et al. Oncotarget. 2015; 6: 37758-69.