Created by B.

Franckowiak 2013
Name: ________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Glucose as a Cell Transport Model

Fig 1. Overview of cell membrane transport mechanisms

Fig 2. The ring form of glucose

As you (hopefully) already know, your cells use glucose as a source of energy. Chemical energy is
stored in the carbon-carbon covalent bonds of the glucose molecule. Glucose must enter the cell
before it can be used for energy, and cells have many different mechanisms for moving glucose.

Glucose is a sugar and cannot freely diffuse across the cell membrane. Biologists have identified a
family of proteins called the GLUT proteins—GLUT for “glucose transporter.” The GLUT proteins
are transmembrane proteins, and each one has a unique mechanism for getting glucose into the
cell.
Created by B. Franckowiak 2013

GLUT-1

The diagram above details the mechanism of GLUT-1. Glucose molecules that are in the
extracellular environment bind to a specific binding site on the GLUT-1 protein. The binding of
glucose triggers a conformational change in GLUT-1. This change in conformation moves the
glucose molecule from the exterior of the cell to the interior of the cell. The glucose molecule is
then released from GLUT-1 and enters the intracellular environment. GLUT-1 is like an enzyme; it
is specific to glucose. GLUT-1 moves glucose down its concentration gradient; no energy is
required.

As soon as glucose enters the intracellular environment, it is phosphorylated. This means that a
phosphate group is attached to the molecule. After it has been phosphorylated, glucose becomes
glucose-6-phosphate:

Questions:

1. What kind of transport is carried out by GLUT-1? Defend your answer.

2. Liver cells break down glycogen into glucose molecules. As a result, the intracellular
concentration of glucose is consistently higher than the extracellular concentration of
glucose. How do you think this affects glucose transport through GLUT-1?
Created by B. Franckowiak 2013

3. How do you think the conversion of glucose to glucose-6-phosphate affects the transport of
glucose molecules through GLUT-1?

SGLT

SGLT is the sodium-glucose transporter. It is a protein that functions as a cotransporter—it

transports two molecules. SGLT depends on the concentration gradient of sodium ions. Cells
maintain a low internal concentration of sodium ions through the sodium-potassium pump.
Sodium-potassium pumps use ATP to power the movement of ions across the cell membrane.
The Na+/K+ pump will move in two potassium ions and move out three sodium ions.

This sodium concentration gradient powers the SGLT glucose transporter. A sodium ion binds
to a binding site on the extracellular side of SGLT. The binding of this sodium ion causes a
conformational change in SGLT that enables it to bind a molecule of glucose. The glucose
molecule and sodium ion are then both moved into the cytoplasm of the cell. SGLT moves
sodium down its concentration gradient but it moves glucose up its concentration gradient.
The energy for transport does not come from ATP. Instead, it comes from the concentration
gradient of sodium.
Created by B. Franckowiak 2013

1. Is SGLT active or passive? How do you know?

2. Explain how SGLT is able to move glucose up its concentration gradient.

GLUT-4

GLUT-4 transports glucose in response to a chemical message—insulin. Insulin is released when

the concentration of glucose in the bloodstream is high. GLUT-4 protein is stored in the cytoplasm
of cells. When a molecule of insulin binds to an insulin receptor on the cell surface, GLUT-4 is
“released” from storage and embeds itself in the cell membrane. Once it is in the membrane, it
moves glucose down its concentration gradient (facilitated diffusion).

In individuals with type 1 diabetes, the body is unable to produce insulin. In individuals with type
2 diabetes, cells are no longer able to respond to insulin signals. Both types greatly impact the
ability of cells to take in glucose.
Created by B. Franckowiak 2013

The above diagram can be a little overwhelming at first glance, but focus on the big picture. On the
left-hand side of the cell there is an insulin receptor. It binds the insulin molecule. The binding of
insulin sets off a chain of events in the cell called a signal cascade. The insulin receptor undergoes
a conformational change, or a change in shape. This conformational change triggers similar
changes in other proteins—in this way, the insulin signal is passed from one molecule to another.
The result of this signal cascade is that GLUT-4 gets transported to the membrane (right-hand side
of the cell). Now it can start facilitating the diffusion of glucose into the cell.

1. How come just taking supplemental insulin is not effective for individuals with Type 2
diabetes?

2. The GLUT-4 mechanism is sometimes called “insulin-mediated glucose transport” or

“insulin dependent glucose transport.” Explain why these names are appropriate.
Created by B. Franckowiak 2013
3. How come cells will have more GLUT-4 working in the membrane when blood glucose
concentration is high than when blood glucose concentration is low?

4. How is GLUT-4 similar to GLUT-1? How are they different?

5. What makes SGLT different from both GLUT-1 and GLUT-4?