Monocarboxylate transporter
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The monocarboxylate transporters,[1] or MCTs, are a family of proton-linked plasma membrane transporters that carry molecules having one carboxylate group (monocarboxylates), such as lactate, pyruvate, and ketones across biological membranes.[2] Acetate is actively transported to intestinal enteroendocrine cells via MCT, termed Targ (short for Tarag in Mongolian).[3] MCTs are expressed in nearly every kind of cell.[4]
There are 14 MCTs corresponding to 14 solute carrier 16A transporters, although the cardinal numbers do not match (for example MCT3 is SLC16A8).[2] MCTs 1-4 have been more carefully investigated than MCTs 5-14.[2]
MCTs can be upregulated by PPAR-α, HIF-1α, Nrf2, and AMPK.[2]