High-capacity Glucose Transporter Research Articles

The role of SWEET4 proteins in the post-phloem sugar transport pathway of Setaria viridis sink tissues.

In the developing seeds of all higher plants, filial cells are symplastically isolated from the maternal tissue supplying photosynthate to the reproductive structure. Photoassimilates must be transported apoplastically, crossing several membrane barriers; a process facilitated by sugar transporters. Sugars Will Eventually be Exported Transporters (SWEETs) have been proposed to play a crucial role in apoplastic sugar transport during phloem unloading and the post-phloem pathway in sink tissues. Evidence for this is presented here for developing seeds of the C4 model grass Setaria viridis. Using immunolocalisation, SvSWEET4 was detected in various maternal and filial tissues within the seed along the sugar transport pathway, in the vascular parenchyma of the pedicel and the xylem parenchyma of the stem. Expression of SvSWEET4a in Xenopus laevis oocytes indicated that they function as high-capacity glucose and sucrose transporters. Carbohydrate and transcriptional profiling of Setaria seed heads showed that there were some developmental shifts in hexose and sucrose levels and consistent expression of SvSWEET4 homologues. Collectively, these results provide evidence for the involvement of SWEETs in the apoplastic transport pathway of sink tissues and allow a pathway for post-phloem sugar transport into the seed to be proposed.

Cerebrovascular Complications of Diabetes: SGLT-2 Inhibitors as a Promising Future Therapeutics.

Sodium-Glucose co-transporter inhibitors are a novel class of drugs widely used in the treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus medical management. This class of drugs has a simple mechanism of action by which they decrease blood glucose levels. They prevent the uptake or re-absorption of glucose in the blood by inhibiting the SGLT2 co-transport channels located in the renal proximal convoluted tubule. Since SGLT2 is the low affinity, high capacity glucose transporter, it allows the co-transport of sodium and glucose through it. SGLT2s are accountable for around 90% of the renal glucose reuptake. Cerebrovascular complications or accidents (CVAs) are the world's leading cause of mortality, resulting in around 6 million deaths annually. Diabetics are prone to develop mitochondrial dysfunction and neurodegeneration due to hyperglycemia and oxidative stress end products. Due to hyperglycemic condition in diabetes, it is always an elevated risk of cerebrovascular dysfunction due to hyperglycemia as it includes endothelial dysfunction, atherosclerosis, hypercoagulability, oxidative stress, renal reperfusion injury which may lead to neuronal degeneration and cognitive impairment. A diabetic individual is more prone to develop risk factors for transient ischemic attacks than a non-diabetic patient. These inhibitors reduce hyperglycemia by blocking renal glucose reabsorption, therefore promoting an increase in renal glucose excretion. This review discusses the potential role of SGLT2 inhibitors in treating CVAs associated with T2DM.

VvSWEET7 Is a Mono- and Disaccharide Transporter Up-Regulated in Response to Botrytis cinerea Infection in Grape Berries.

The newly-identified SWEETs are high-capacity, low-affinity sugar transporters with important roles in numerous physiological mechanisms where sugar efflux is critical. SWEETs are desirable targets for manipulation by pathogens and their expression may be transcriptionally reprogrammed during infection. So far, few plant SWEET transporters have been functionally characterized, especially in grapevine. In this study, in the Botrytis-susceptible variety “Trincadeira,” we thoroughly analyzed modifications in the gene expression profile of key SWEET genes in Botrytis cinerea-infected grape berries. VvSWEET7 and VvSWEET15 are likely to play an important role during fruit development and Botrytis infection as they are strongly expressed at the green and mature stage, respectively, and were clearly up-regulated in response to infection. Also, B. cinerea infection down-regulated VvSWEET17a expression at the green stage, VvSWEET10 and VvSWEET17d expression at the veraison stage, and VvSWEET11 expression at the mature stage. VvSWEET7 was functionally characterized by heterologous expression in Saccharomyces cerevisiae as a low-affinity, high-capacity glucose and sucrose transporter with a K m of 15.42 mM for glucose and a K m of 40.08 mM for sucrose. VvSWEET7-GFP and VvSWEET15-GFP fusion proteins were transiently expressed in Nicotiana benthamiana epidermal cells and confocal microscopy allowed to observe that both proteins clearly localize to the plasma membrane. In sum, VvSWEETs transporters are important players in sugar mobilization during grape berry development and their expression is transcriptionally reprogrammed in response to Botrytis infection.

Glucose starvation-induced turnover of the yeast glucose transporter Hxt1

BackgroundThe budding yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae possesses multiple glucose transporters with different affinities for glucose that enable it to respond to a wide range of glucose concentrations. The steady-state levels of glucose transporters are regulated in response to changes in the availability of glucose. This study investigates the glucose regulation of the low affinity, high capacity glucose transporter Hxt1. Methods and resultsWestern blotting and confocal microscopy were performed to evaluate glucose regulation of the stability of Hxt1. Our results show that glucose starvation induces endocytosis and degradation of Hxt1 and that this event requires End3, a protein required for endocytosis, and the Doa4 deubiquitination enzyme. Mutational analysis of the lysine residues in the Hxt1 N-terminal domain demonstrates that the two lysine residues, K12 and K39, serve as the putative ubiquitin-acceptor sites by the Rsp5 ubiquitin ligase. We also demonstrate that inactivation of PKA (cAMP-dependent protein kinase A) is needed for Hxt1 turnover, implicating the role of the Ras/cAMP-PKA glucose signaling pathway in the stability of Hxt1. Conclusion and general significanceHxt1, most useful when glucose is abundant, is internalized and degraded when glucose becomes depleted. Of note, the stability of Hxt1 is regulated by PKA, known as a positive regulator for glucose induction of HXT1 gene expression, demonstrating a dual role of PKA in regulation of Hxt1.

Impact of assimilable nitrogen availability in glucose uptake kinetics in Saccharomyces cerevisiae during alcoholic fermentation

BackgroundThe expression and activity of the different Saccharomyces cerevisiae hexose uptake systems (Hxt) and the kinetics of glucose uptake are considered essential to industrial alcoholic fermentation performance. However, the dynamics of glucose uptake kinetics during the different stages of fermentation, depending on glucose and nitrogen availability, is very poorly characterized. The objective of the present work was to examine thoroughly the alterations occurring in glucose uptake kinetics during alcoholic fermentation, by the wine strain S. cerevisiae PYCC 4072, of a synthetic grape juice basal medium with either a limiting or non-limiting initial nitrogen concentration and following nitrogen supplementation of the nitrogen-depleted sluggish fermentation.ResultsIndependently of the initial concentration of the nitrogen source, glucose transport capacity is maximal during the early stages of fermentation and presumably sustained by the low-affinity and high-capacity glucose transporter Hxt1p. During nitrogen-limited sluggish fermentation, glucose uptake capacity was reduced to approximately 20% of its initial values (Vmax = 4.9 ± 0.8 compared to 21.9 ± 1.2 μmol h-1 10-8 cells), being presumably sustained by the low-affinity glucose transporter Hxt3p (considering the calculated Km = 39.2 ± 8.6 mM). The supplementation of the sluggish fermentation broth with ammonium led to the increase of glucose transport capacity associated to the expression of different glucose uptake systems with low and high affinities for glucose (Km = 58.2 ± 9.1 and 2.7 ± 0.4 mM). A biclustering analysis carried out using microarray data, previously obtained for this yeast strain transcriptional response to equivalent fermentation conditions, indicates that the activation of the expression of genes encoding the glucose transporters Hxt2p (during the transition period to active fermentation) and Hxt3p, Hxt4p, Hxt6p and Hxt7p (during the period of active fermentation) may have a major role in the recovery of glucose uptake rate following ammonium supplementation. These results suggest a general derepression of the glucose-repressible HXT genes and are consistent with the downregulation of Mig1p and Rgt1p.ConclusionsAlthough reduced, glucose uptake rate during nitrogen-limited fermentation is not abrogated. Following ammonium supplementation, sluggish fermentation recovery is associated to the increase of glucose uptake capacity, related to the de novo synthesis of glucose transporters with different affinity for glucose and capacity, presumably of Hxt2p, Hxt3p, Hxt4p, Hxt6p and Hxt7p. This study is a contribution to the understanding of yeast response to different stages of alcoholic fermentation at the level of glucose uptake kinetics, in particular under nitrogen limitation or replenish, which is useful knowledge to guide fermentation practices.

Single-strand conformation polymorphism analysis of the glucose transporter gene GLUT1 in maturity-onset diabetes of the young.

Maturity-onset diabetes of the young (MODY), an autosomal dominant, early-onset form of type-2 diabetes, is caused by mutations in five different genes all leading to defect(s) in the pancreatic beta cell. However, some patients with this form of diabetes do not bear a mutation in any of the known (MODY1-MODY5) loci, a notion prompting the search for new MODY genes. Clinical and genetic data point toward a defect in beta cell function in the majority of patients with MODY, and partners of the glucose-sensing device are reasonable functional candidates. The high-capacity glucose transporter GLUT2 has the ideal kinetic features for performing this task. However, complete GLUT2 deficiency in humans leads to hepato-renal glycogenosis (Fanconi-Bickel syndrome), and heterozygous GLUT2 mutations apparently behave in a recessive manner. Furthermore, in the human beta cell GLUT1 mRNA is predominant when compared to GLUT2 and glucose influx appears to be largely mediated by this low-Km transporter. Thus, we looked for the presence of sequence variants by polymerase chain reaction and single-strand conformation polymorphism (PCR-SSCP) within the GLUT1 gene in 90 Italian pedigrees negative at the search for mutations in glucokinase (MODY2) and hepatocyte nuclear factor-1alpha (MODY3), the two genes responsible for about 60% of MODY cases in Italian children. We found three already described silent mutations and a new single base deletion in position -173 of the 5' regulatory region. The -173de1A variant, which was detected in the heterozygous or homozygous state in 30.8% of MODY patients examined and is located in a Nuclear Factor Y binding sequence, is not associated with hyperglycemia in affected relatives of MODY probands. In conclusion, it appears from these results that the glucose transporter gene GLUT1 is unlikely to play a major role in the etiology of MODY diabetes.

The brain response to 2-deoxy glucose is blocked by a glial drug

Two brain regions — the basomedial hypothalamus and area postrema (AP) — react to changes in circulating glucose levels by altering feeding behavior and the secretion of pituitary and non-pituitary hormones. The precise identity of cells responding to glucose in these regions is uncertain. The recent detection of high-capacity glucose transporter proteins in astrocytes in these areas has suggested that astrocytes may play a role in glucose sensing by the brain. To test this hypothesis, rats were injected with either saline or methionine sulfoximine (MS), a compound that produces alterations in carbohydrate and glutamate metabolism in astrocytes. Eighteen hours later, rats were injected with either saline or 2-deoxy glucose (2-DG) and brain sections were stained to demonstrate 2-DG-activated neurons immunoreactive for Fos protein. MS-treated rats showed a 70% reduction in numbers of Fos+ neurons in the AP region ( p<0.05). Also, specialized, Gomori+ astrocytes were particularly abundant in both glucose sensitive regions and showed a distribution identical to that reported for high-capacity glucose transporter proteins. These data suggest that specialized astrocytes influence the glucose-sensing function of the brain.

Interaction of respiratory burst and uptake of dehydroascorbic acid in differentiated HL-60 cells

HL-60 cells differentiated with DMSO increased their rates of uptake of ascorbate when they were activated with PMA. The rates observed after this activation were essentially the same as those with dehydroascorbic acid as the original transport substrate. The effect of activation was sensitive to the antioxidant enzymes superoxide dismutase and catalase. When ascorbate was oxidized in situ by chemical or enzymic oxidation, the rates of uptake were similar to those after activation of the cells by phorbol ester; however, in the latter case the extracellular vitamin remained largely in the reduced form and there was very little loss by degradation, whereas after immediate oxidation no more reduced ascorbate could be found outside the cells after a few minutes and a significant part of the total vitamin was lost. The generation of superoxide by xanthine/xanthine oxidase stimulated the uptake of ascorbate much less than the activation by phorbol ester; H2O2 was even less effective. Stimulation of the uptake by phorbol ester was also insensitive to GSH, in contrast with stimulation by the chemical oxidation of ascorbate. Stimulation of ascorbate uptake by phorbol ester was sensitive to the respiratory-burst inhibitor diphenyliodonium as well as the protein kinase C inhibitor staurosporine, indicating the respiratory burst as the cause of stimulation. Activation of the cells by the phorbol ester also stimulated the uptake of dehydroascorbate as the original substrate, in a manner insensitive to antioxidants or inhibitors of the respiratory burst. In all cases the intracellular vitamin was completely in the reduced form. Kinetic characterization by the calculation of maximal velocities and apparent Km values and assaying for the dependence of uptake rates on the ionic milieu and for inhibition by glucose analogues and inhibitors of glucose transport revealed that after treatment with phorbol ester the uptake of total vitamin C in differentiated HL-60 cells was largely due to the low-affinity high-capacity glucose transporter. In contrast, in non-stimulated cells reduced ascorbate was taken up by the Na+-dependent high-affinity low-capacity ascorbate transporter. This change was probably due to the oxidation of ascorbate and, simultaneously, the recruitment of additional transporter molecules to the cell surface.

Interaction of respiratory burst and uptake of dehydroascorbic acid in differentiated HL-60 cells

HL-60 cells differentiated with DMSO increased their rates of uptake of ascorbate when they were activated with PMA. The rates observed after this activation were essentially the same as those with dehydroascorbic acid as the original transport substrate. The effect of activation was sensitive to the antioxidant enzymes superoxide dismutase and catalase. When ascorbate was oxidized in situ by chemical or enzymic oxidation, the rates of uptake were similar to those after activation of the cells by phorbol ester; however, in the latter case the extracellular vitamin remained largely in the reduced form and there was very little loss by degradation, whereas after immediate oxidation no more reduced ascorbate could be found outside the cells after a few minutes and a significant part of the total vitamin was lost. The generation of superoxide by xanthine/xanthine oxidase stimulated the uptake of ascorbate much less than the activation by phorbol ester; H(2)O(2) was even less effective. Stimulation of the uptake by phorbol ester was also insensitive to GSH, in contrast with stimulation by the chemical oxidation of ascorbate. Stimulation of ascorbate uptake by phorbol ester was sensitive to the respiratory-burst inhibitor diphenyliodonium as well as the protein kinase C inhibitor staurosporine, indicating the respiratory burst as the cause of stimulation. Activation of the cells by the phorbol ester also stimulated the uptake of dehydroascorbate as the original substrate, in a manner insensitive to antioxidants or inhibitors of the respiratory burst. In all cases the intracellular vitamin was completely in the reduced form. Kinetic characterization by the calculation of maximal velocities and apparent K(m) values and assaying for the dependence of uptake rates on the ionic milieu and for inhibition by glucose analogues and inhibitors of glucose transport revealed that after treatment with phorbol ester the uptake of total vitamin C in differentiated HL-60 cells was largely due to the low-affinity high-capacity glucose transporter. In contrast, in non-stimulated cells reduced ascorbate was taken up by the Na(+)-dependent high-affinity low-capacity ascorbate transporter. This change was probably due to the oxidation of ascorbate and, simultaneously, the recruitment of additional transporter molecules to the cell surface.

Efficient export of the glucose transporter Hxt1p from the endoplasmic reticulum requires Gsf2p.

Mutations in the GSF2 gene cause glucose starvation phenotypes in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. We have isolated the HXT1 gene, which encodes a low-affinity, high-capacity glucose transporter, as a multicopy suppressor of a gsf2 mutation. We show that gsf2 mutants accumulate Hxt1p in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and that Gsf2p is a 46-kDa integral membrane protein localized to the ER. gsf2 mutants also display a galactose growth defect and abnormal localization of the galactose transporter Gal2p but are not defective in function or localization of the high-affinity glucose transporter Hxt2p. These findings suggest that Gsf2p functions in the ER to promote the secretion of certain hexose transporters.

Hexose transport across the basolateral membrane of the chicken jejunum.

The characteristics of the basolateral transport of D-glucose (D-Glc) and D-fructose (D-Fru) have been studied in membrane vesicles from the jejunum of 5- to 6-wk-old chickens. Uptake of hexoses was measured using a rapid filtration method. The maximal rate of transport (Vmax) for D-Glc was 2.36 nmol x mg(-1) x s(-1) and for D-Fru was 3.79 nmol x mg(-1) x s(-1). The Michaelis constants were 17.3 mmol/l for D-Glc and 40.4 mmol/l for D-Fru. D-Glc inhibited its own transport (Ki = 17.4 mmol/l) and the transport of D-Fru (Ki = 18.7 mmol/l). D-Fru inhibited its own transport (Ki = 38.1 mmol/l) and the transport of D-Glc (Ki = 40.3 mmol/l). The transport of both hexoses was Na+ independent, theophylline and cytochalasin B sensitive, and showed cis-inhibition by structural analogs. In preloaded vesicles, the uptake of D-Fru was trans-stimulated by D-Glc and 2-deoxy-D-glucose. These properties indicate the presence of a low-affinity high-capacity glucose transporter isoform (GLUT-2)-type carrier in the chicken intestine, responsible for moving both D-Glc and D-Fru across the basolateral membrane.

Engineering of glucose-stimulated insulin secretion and biosynthesis in non-islet cells.

The high-capacity glucose transporter known as GLUT-2 and the glucose phosphorylating enzyme glucokinase are thought to be key components of the "glucose-sensing apparatus" that regulates insulin release from the beta cells of the islets of Langerhans in response to changes in external glucose concentration. AtT-20ins cells are derived from anterior pituitary cells and are like beta cells in that they express glucokinase and have been engineered to secrete correctly processed insulin in response to analogs of cAMP, but, unlike beta cells, they fail to respond to glucose and lack GLUT-2 expression. Herein we demonstrate that stable transfection of AtT-20ins cells with the GLUT-2 cDNA confers glucose-stimulated insulin secretion and glucose regulation of insulin biosynthesis and also results in glucose potentiation of the secretory response to non-glucose secretagogues. This work represents a first step toward creation of a genetically engineered "artificial beta cell."