GLUCOSE TRANSPORTERS – Membrane glycoproteins, 5 important ones

1. When insulin binds to its receptors on the cell surface, a vesicle of intracellular glucose
transporters is recruited to the cell surface.
2. Glucose enters the cells through this transporter as long as they remain traversing the cell
membrane.
3. When glucose levels fall, insulin separates from receptor, GLUT transporters moves away from
cell membrane to cytoplasm to be used again.

GLUT 4 ACTIVITY

1. Insulin sensitive glucose transporter, found in skeletal muscle, adipose tissue and heart.
2. In absence of insulin, GLUT 4 remains stored in intracellular vesicles.
3. After insulin binds to receptor, transporters move to cell membrane by exocytosis.
4. Glucose uptake increases by passive diffusion with increase in number of transporters.
5. Low Km permits rapid uptake of glucose by cells.
6. On insulin removal, GLUT 4 transporter leaves the cell membrane back to the cytoplasm via
endocytosis.
GLUT 2 ACTIVITY

Found in liver, pancreas, small intestine.

Insulin independent (don’t require insulin – can uptake glucose without it)

High Km (Michaelis Menten constant) – Very low affinity for glucose

Only uptake glucose through GLUT 2 when glucose concentration is very high. It allows the other cells to
take up glucose up first, and then uptakes it and stores it as glycogen.

Pancreas uptakes glucose by the Beta-cells (releases insulin) when glucose concentration in high.

GLUT 4 ACTIVITY

Found in skeletal muscle, adipose tissue, heart

Insulin dependant

Moderate Km – It has moderate affinity for glucose

When insulin is released, translocation of GLUT 4 to cell membrane to allow glucose uptake.