Evaluation Methods for Facilitative Glucose Transport in Cells and Their Applications

Abstract

Glucose is used as an energy source in most organisms, from bacteria to humans. The facilitative glucose transport systems are ubiquitous in living cells and are responsible for the movement of glucose across the cell membrane. Since transport of glucose is essential for life and is carefully regulated, glucose uptake assays are performed in a vast number of biological studies. Previously, the method of choice employed radio-labeled hexose derivatives, but now researchers can select several non-radioisotopic methods to evaluate glucose uptake. In the present review, we introduce the various methodologies used to conduct glucose uptake assays and evaluate their application.