Assignment: Function of Mitochondrial Pyruvate Carriers Paper

Read the document of textbook pages and the other document with the figure panel chosen (FIGURE 1A)

After reading the document and observing Figure 1A answer the following questions:

1. Which figure panel did you pick?

2. For the experiment(s) detailed in this figure, what model organism was used in the experiments? In general, what are the advantages of using this model organism? What are the disadvantages?

3. Describe, in your own words, the method(s) used to collect the data for this figure. A few sentences is fine.

4. What result is depicted in this figure? What can we conclude from that result? What does the result suggest (what are the implications of the result)?

5. What would be a different (potentially opposite) result have been? What would those results have suggested?

The mitochondrial pyruvate carrier (MPC) was discovered in 2012 [1,2]. However, as early as 1971, studies predicted that a mitochondrial protein transported pyruvate from the cytoplasm into the mitochondria [3,4,5]. Since its discovery, the MPC has been the subject of extensive primary literature research articles and reviews detailing key aspects of its structure, function, regulation, and diverse roles in health and disease. To date, most studies examining the MPC’s role in disease using genetically tractable systems have focused on cancer metabolism and diabetes. However, smaller yet important niches for MPC research are becoming evident, highlighting the variety of situations where the MPC controls metabolism and dependent cellular functions. Some of these include embryonic and fetal health, stem cell development, neurogenerative disease, and immune cell function.

A central theme, and the focus of this review, is that the beneficial or harmful role of the MPC in a disease or physiological state is highly specific to tissue and cell type. Cell- and tissue-dependent differences in MPC content and activity suggest that MPC function is tightly regulated as a mechanism of metabolic, cellular, and organismal control. Several recent studies provide evidence that the MPC is regulated at multiple levels by transcription factors, protein–protein interactions, and post-translational modifications. Here, we examine MPC function across the lifespan, beginning with embryonic and fetal development and ending with aging-associated neurodegeneration.

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2. The MPC in the Triumvirate of Mitochondrial Pyruvate Metabolism
Mitochondrial pyruvate metabolism is controlled by a triumvirate of enzymes—the MPC, pyruvate dehydrogenase (PDH), and pyruvate carboxylase (PC) [6,7,8]—that together modulate many physiological and pathological processes. Pyruvate is the end product of glycolysis, and its metabolism is instrumental in managing carbohydrate loads, producing ATP, and maintaining blood glucose levels. When pyruvate metabolism is dysfunctional, as first recognized in patients with inborn errors in PDH and PC, the effects are wide-ranging. Infants with either PDH or PC genetic mutations often show high blood lactate and ammonia levels, low muscle tone and lethargy, developmental delays, seizures, and even premature death.

Important information for writing discussion questions and participation

Welcome to class

Hello class and welcome to the class and I will be your instructor for this course. This is a -week course and requires a lot of time commitment, organization, and a high level of dedication. Please use the class syllabus to guide you through all the assignments required for the course. I have also attached the classroom policies to this announcement to know your expectations for this course. Please review this document carefully and ask me any questions if you do. You could email me at any time or send me a message via the “message” icon in halo if you need to contact me. I check my email regularly, so you should get a response within 24 hours. If you have not heard from me within 24 hours and need to contact me urgently, please send a follow up text to

I strongly encourage that you do not wait until the very last minute to complete your assignments. Your assignments in weeks 4 and 5 require early planning as you would need to present a teaching plan and interview a community health provider. I advise you look at the requirements for these assignments at the beginning of the course and plan accordingly. I have posted the YouTube link that explains all the class assignments in detail. It is required that you watch this 32-minute video as the assignments from week 3 through 5 require that you follow the instructions to the letter to succeed. Failure to complete these assignments according to instructions might lead to a zero. After watching the video, please schedule a one-on-one with me to discuss your topic for your project by the second week of class. Use this link to schedule a 15-minute session. Please, call me at the time of your appointment on my number. Please note that I will NOT call you.

Please, be advised I do NOT accept any assignments by email. If you are having technical issues with uploading an assignment, contact the technical department and inform me of the issue. If you have any issues that would prevent you from getting your assignments to me by the deadline, please inform me to request a possible extension. Note that working fulltime or overtime is no excuse for late assignments. There is a 5%-point deduction for every day your assignment is late. This only applies to approved extensions. Late assignments will not be accepted.

If you think you would be needing accommodations due to any reasons, please contact the appropriate department to request accommodations.

Plagiarism is highly prohibited. Please ensure you are citing your sources correctly using APA 7th edition. All assignments including discussion posts should be formatted in APA with the appropriate spacing, font, margin, and indents. Any papers not well formatted would be returned back to you, hence, I advise you review APA formatting style. I have attached a sample paper in APA format and will also post sample discussion responses in subsequent announcements.

Your initial discussion post should be a minimum of 200 words and response posts should be a minimum of 150 words. Be advised that I grade based on quality and not necessarily the number of words you post. A minimum of TWO references should be used for your initial post. For your response post, you do not need references as personal experiences would count as response posts. If you however cite anything from the literature for your response post, it is required that you cite your reference. You should include a minimum of THREE references for papers in this course. Please note that references should be no more than 5 years old except recommended as a resource for the class. Furthermore, for each discussion board question, you need ONE initial substantive response and TWO substantive responses to either your classmates or your instructor for a total of THREE responses. There are TWO discussion questions each week, hence, you need a total minimum of SIX discussion posts for each week. I usually post a discussion question each week. You could also respond to these as it would count towards your required SIX discussion posts for the week.

I understand this is a lot of information to cover in 5 weeks, however, the Bible says in Philippians 4:13 that we can do all things through Christ that strengthens us. Even in times like this, we are encouraged by God’s word that we have that ability in us to succeed with His strength. I pray that each and every one of you receives strength for this course and life generally as we navigate through this pandemic that is shaking our world today. Relax and enjoy the course!

Hi Class,

Please read through the following information on writing a Discussion question response and participation posts.

Contact me if you have any questions.

Important information on Writing a Discussion Question

• Your response needs to be a minimum of 150 words (not including your list of references)
• There needs to be at least TWO references with ONE being a peer reviewed professional journal article.
• Include in-text citations in your response
• Do not include quotes—instead summarize and paraphrase the information
• Follow APA-7th edition
• Points will be deducted if the above is not followed

Participation –replies to your classmates or instructor

• A minimum of 6 responses per week, on at least 3 days of the week.
• Each response needs at least ONE reference with citations—best if it is a peer reviewed journal article
• Each response needs to be at least 75 words in length (does not include your list of references)
• Responses need to be substantive by bringing information to the discussion or further enhance the discussion. Responses of “I agree” or “great post” does not count for the word count.
• Follow APA 7th edition
• Points will be deducted if the above is not followed

• Remember to use and follow APA-7th edition for all weekly assignments, discussion questions, and participation points.
• Here are some helpful links
• The is a great resource