Abstract
Recent advances in the studies of glucose transport in animal cells are reviewed. Five subtypes of glucose transporters of facilitated diffusion have been found. They differ in tissue distribution. One of them, GLUT 1 localizes in blood-tissue barriers, such as blood-brain barrier, blood-ocular barrier and placental barrier. Homologous transporters are found in prokaryotes as well as lower eukaryotes. They traverse the membrane 12 times, according to hydropathy analysis and the molecular weights of which are around 50K. Homology of membrane segments is higher than that of hydrophilic parts. Regulation by insulin of glucose transport in adipocytes and muscles is mainly done by the recycling of vesicles containing glucose transporters between microsomes and plasma membrane. Recent rapid progress in moleluar biology of glucose transport may enable us to clarify the molecular mechanism of membrane transport.
