A common enzyme takes on a surprising role in preventing cancer
Originally published by Justin Jackson , Phys.org, on May 19, 2025 Edited by Sadie Harley , reviewed by Robert Egan Working model revealing the role of ALDH4A1 in maintaining an active MPC complex for mitochondrial pyruvate import and TCA cycle entry. Credit: Nature Cell Biology (2025). DOI: 10.1038/s41556-025-01651-8 Researchers at Duke University Medical Center and Wake Forest University School of Medicine have identified ALDH4A 1 , a mitochondrial proline-metabolizing enzyme , as a third structural component of the mitochondrial pyruvate carrier (MPC) complex . Forming a trimeric assembly with MPC1 and MPC2 , ALDH4A1 maintains MPC integrity and facilitates pyruvate import into mitochondria . M itochondrial pyruvate import serves as a c ritical step in cellular energy metabolism , linking cytosolic glycolysis to mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation. Disruptions in this pathway can promote cancer cell proliferation by increasing cytosolic pyruvate and driving ...