419 Glucose controls protein-protein interactions and epidermal differentiation

Abstract

Glucose serves as a universal energy currency in living organisms, however, its potential non-energetic biomolecular functions are less well defined. Glucose was among the most increased analytes among >14,000 assessed across epidermal differentiation, an elevation verified in tissue engineered with fluorescent glucose sensors. Free glucose accumulation, but not its increased metabolism, was essential for epidermal differentiation and required GLUT1, GLUT3, and SGLT1 transporters. Consistent with this, decreasing cellular glucose levels, by restricting available glucose or by increasing intracellular glucose catabolizing enzymes, HK1/2 and G6PD, blocked differentiation and differentiation was also rescued with a non-metabolizable glucose analog.