Monocarboxylate transporter 3

Monocarboxylate transporter 3 (MCT3) also known as solute carrier family 16 member 8 is a is_associated_with::protein that in humans is encoded by the SLC16A8 is_associated_with::gene. MCT is a proton-coupled is_associated_with::monocarboxylate transporter. It catalyzes the rapid transport across the plasma membrane of many monocarboxylates such as lactate, pyruvate, branched-chain oxo acids derived from leucine, valine and isoleucine, and the ketone bodies acetoacetate, beta-hydroxybutyrate and acetate. It also functions as high-affinity pyruvate transporter.

Expression of SLC16A8 is confined to the is_associated_with::retinal pigment epithelium and is_associated_with::choroid plexus epithelia, where it is located on the basal membrane in contrast to is_associated_with::MCT1 which is found on the apical membrane.