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Updated: Apr 5, 2026
Real-Time Measurement of the Mitochondrial Bioenergetic Profile of Neutrophils
Published on: June 2, 2023
Monitoring Mitochondrial Pyruvate Carrier Activity in Real Time Using a BRET-Based Biosensor: Investigation of the
Vincent Compan1, Sandra Pierredon2, Benoît Vanderperre2
1Department of Cell Biology, University of Geneva, 30 quai Ernest-Ansermet, 1211 Genève 4, Switzerland; Institut de Génomique Fonctionnelle Labex ICST; INSERM U661, CNRS UMR5203; Université Montpellier, 141, rue de la Cardonille, 34094 Montpellier cedex 5, France.
Abstract:
The transport of pyruvate into mitochondria requires a specific carrier, the mitochondrial pyruvate carrier (MPC). The MPC represents a central node of carbon metabolism, and its activity is likely to play a key role in bioenergetics. Until now, investigation of the MPC activity has been limited. However, the recent molecular identification of the components of the carrier has allowed us to engineer a genetically encoded biosensor and to monitor the activity of the MPC in real time in a cell population or in a single cell. We report that the MPC activity is low in cancer cells, which mainly rely on glycolysis to generate ATP, a characteristic known as the Warburg effect. We show that this low activity can be reversed by increasing the concentration of cytosolic pyruvate, thus increasing oxidative phosphorylation. This biosensor represents a unique tool to investigate carbon metabolism and bioenergetics in various cell types.
