Trials, tribulations and finally, a transporter: the identification of the mitochondrial pyruvate transporter.

Pyruvate occupies a central role in energy homoeostasis, and dysregulation of its cellular disposition underlies many metabolic disturbances. Although the mitochondrial membrane pyruvate transporter has been characterized, its molecular identity has proved elusive. Recent work has now identified a single candidate protein for the mitochondrial pyruvate carrier in yeast, opening the way for further studies in mammalian systems, which may have important therapeutic applications within the context of metabolic disease.