Isolated nucleic acid molecules, designated MCP nucleic acid molecules, which encode novel MCP proteins from Corynebacterium glutamicum are described. The invention also provides antisense nucleic acid molecules, recombinant expression vectors containing MCP nucleic acid molecules, and host cells into which the expression vectors have been introduced. The invention still further provides isolated MCP proteins, mutated MCP proteins, fusion proteins, antigenic peptides and methods for the improvement of production of a desired compound from C. glutamicum based on genetic engineering of MCP genes in this organism.