This gene product is one of several closely related mitochondrial-membrane carrier proteins that shuttle substrates between cytosol and the intramitochondrial matrix space. This protein mediates the transport of acylcarnitines into mitochondrial matrix for their oxidation by the mitochondrial fatty acid-oxidation pathway. Mutations in this gene are associated with carnitine-acylcarnitine translocase deficiency, which can cause a variety of pathological conditions such as hypoglycemia, cardiac arrest, hepatomegaly, hepatic dysfunction and muscle weakness, and is usually lethal in new born and infants.