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Assays of Glucose Entry, Glucose Transporter Amount, and Translocation
Abstract
Glucose enters the cell by a carrier-mediated, facilitated diffusion mechanism, which, in most tissues, exhibits no energy or counter-ion requirements. In adipose tissues and skeletal muscle, glucose entry is acutely regulated by insulin and other hormones (1,2). Indeed, in those tissues, glucose transporter 4 (GLUT4) is the chief isoform which is, in basal conditions, retained in a specific intracellular storage compartment (3). The GLUT4-containing vesicles are translocated to the plasma membrane in response to insulin, thus allowing for the massive entry of glucose into the cells (1,2). Adipocytes also contain a small proportion of the ubiquituously expressed glucose transporter, GLUT1, which is at a similar level at the plasma membranes and inside the cell (3). Because of this basal distribution, insulin effect on GLUT1 translocation is minor.
Affiliation(s): (2) Faculté de Médecine, INSERM E99-11, Nice, France
Series: Methods in Molecular Biology  |  Volume: 155  |  Pub. Date: Mar-01-2001  |  Page Range: 157-165  |  DOI: 10.1385/1-59259-231-7:157
Subject:  Cell Biology
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