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Insulin-regulatable tissues express a unique insulin-sensitive glucose transport protein

Nature volume 333, pages 183–185 (1988)Cite this article

Abstract

At least three different glucose transport systems exist in mammalian cells. These are: (1) the constitutively active, facilitative carrier characteristic of human erythrocytes1, Hep G2 (ref. 2) cells and rat brain3; (2) the Na-dependent active transporter of kidney and small intestine4,5; and (3) the facilitative carrier of rat liver (B. Thorens and H. F. Lodish, personal communication). A fourth possible glucose transport system is the insulin-dependent carrier that may be specific to muscle and adipose tissue6. This transporter resides primarily in an intracellular compartment in resting cells from where it translocates to the cell surface upon cellular insulin exposure7–9. This raises the question of whether hormonal regulation of glucose transport is conferred by virtue of a tissue-specific signalling mechanism or a tissue-specific glucose transporter. Here we present data supporting the latter concept based upon a monoclonal antibody against the fat cell glucose transporter that identifies a unique, insulin-regulatable glucose transport protein in muscle and adipose tissue.

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Author notes

  1. David E. James

    Present address: Department of Cell Biology and Physiology, Washington University School of Medicine, Box 8101, 660 South Euclid Avenue, St. Louis, Missouri, 63110, USA

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biochemistry, Boston University School of Medicine, 80 E. Concord Street, Boston, Massachusetts, 02118, USA

    David E. James, Robert Brown & Paul F. Pilch

  2. Department of Physiology, Boston University School of Medicine, 80 E. Concord Street, Boston, Massachusetts, 02118, USA

    Javier Navarro

Authors
  1. David E. James
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  2. Robert Brown
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  3. Javier Navarro
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  4. Paul F. Pilch
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James, D., Brown, R., Navarro, J. et al. Insulin-regulatable tissues express a unique insulin-sensitive glucose transport protein. Nature 333, 183–185 (1988). https://doi.org/10.1038/333183a0

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