GLUT4 explained

Glucose transporter type 4 (GLUT4), also known as solute carrier family 2, facilitated glucose transporter member 4, is a protein encoded, in humans, by the SLC2A4 gene. GLUT4 is the insulin-regulated glucose transporter found primarily in adipose tissues and striated muscle (skeletal and cardiac). The first evidence for this distinct glucose transport protein was provided by David James in 1988.[1] The gene that encodes GLUT4 was cloned[2] [3] and mapped in 1989.[4]

At the cell surface, GLUT4 permits the facilitated diffusion of circulating glucose down its concentration gradient into muscle and fat cells. Once within cells, glucose is rapidly phosphorylated by glucokinase in the liver and hexokinase in other tissues to form glucose-6-phosphate, which then enters glycolysis or is polymerized into glycogen. Glucose-6-phosphate cannot diffuse back out of cells, which also serves to maintain the concentration gradient for glucose to passively enter cells.[5]

Structure

Like all proteins, the unique amino acid arrangement in the primary sequence of GLUT4 is what allows it to transport glucose across the plasma membrane. In addition to the phenylalanine on the N-terminus, two Leucine residues and acidic motifs on the COOH-terminus are believed to play a key role in the kinetics of endocytosis and exocytosis.[6]

Other GLUT proteins

There are 14 total GLUT proteins separated into 3 classes based on sequence similarities. Class 1 consists of GLUT 1-4 and 14, class 2 contains GLUT 5, 7, 9 and 11, and class 3 has GLUT 6, 8, 10, 12 and 13.

Although there are some sequence differences between all GLUT proteins, they all have some basic structural components. For example, both the N and C termini in GLUT proteins are exposed to the cytoplasm of the cell, and they all have 12 transmembrane segments.[7]

Tissue distribution

Skeletal muscle

In striated skeletal muscle cells, GLUT4 concentration in the plasma membrane can increase as a result of either exercise or muscle contraction.

During exercise, the body needs to convert glucose to ATP to be used as energy. As G-6-P concentrations decrease, hexokinase becomes less inhibited, and the glycolytic and oxidative pathways that make ATP are able to proceed. This also means that muscle cells are able to take in more glucose as its intracellular concentrations decrease. In order to increase glucose levels in the cell, GLUT4 is the primary transporter used in this facilitated diffusion.[8]

Although muscle contractions function in a similar way and also induce the translocation of GLUT4 into the plasma membrane, the two skeletal muscle processes obtain different forms of intracellular GLUT4. The GLUT4 carrier vesicles are either transferrin positive or negative, and are recruited by different stimuli. Transferrin-positive GLUT4 vesicles are utilized during muscle contraction while the transferrin-negative vesicles are activated by insulin stimulation as well as by exercise.[9] [10]

Cardiac muscle

Cardiac muscle is slightly different from skeletal muscle. At rest, they prefer to utilize fatty acids as their main energy source. As activity increases and it begins to pump faster, the cardiac muscles begin to oxidize glucose at a higher rate.[11]

 An analysis of mRNA levels of GLUT1 and GLUT4 in cardiac muscles show that GLUT1 plays a larger role in cardiac muscles than it does in skeletal muscles.[12] GLUT4, however, is still believed to be the primary transporter for glucose.[13]

Much like in other tissues, GLUT4 also responds to insulin signaling, and is transported into the plasma membrane to facilitate the diffusion of glucose into the cell. [14] [15]

Adipose tissue

Adipose tissue, commonly known as fat,[16]  is a depository for energy in order to conserve metabolic homeostasis. As the body takes in energy in the form of glucose, some is expended, and the rest is stored as glycogen (primarily in the liver, muscle cells), or as triglyceride in adipose tissue.[17]

An imbalance in glucose intake and energy expenditure has been shown to lead to both adipose cell hypertrophy and hyperplasia, which lead to obesity.[18]  In addition, mutations in GLUT4 genes in adipocytes can also lead to increased GLUT4 expression in adipose cells, which allows for increased glucose uptake and therefore more fat stored. If GLUT4 is over-expressed, it can actually alter nutrient distribution and send excess glucose into adipose tissue, leading to increased adipose tissue mass. 

Regulation

Insulin

Insulin is released from the pancreas and into the bloodstream in response to increased glucose concentration in the blood.[19] Insulin is stored in beta cells in the pancreas. When glucose in the blood binds to glucose receptors on the beta cell membrane, a signal cascade is initiated inside the cell that results in insulin stored in vesicles in these cells being released into the blood stream.[20] Increased insulin levels cause the uptake of glucose into the cells. GLUT4 is stored in the cell in transport vesicles, and is quickly incorporated into the plasma membrane of the cell when insulin binds to membrane receptors.

Under conditions of low insulin, most GLUT4 is sequestered in intracellular vesicles in muscle and fat cells. As the vesicles fuse with the plasma membrane, GLUT4 transporters are inserted and become available for transporting glucose, and glucose absorption increases.[21] The genetically engineered muscle insulin receptor knock‐out (MIRKO) mouse was designed to be insensitive to glucose uptake caused by insulin, meaning that GLUT4 is absent. Mice with diabetes or fasting hyperglycemia, however, were found to be immune to the negative effects of the insensitivity.[22]

The mechanism for GLUT4 is an example of a cascade effect, where binding of a ligand to a membrane receptor amplifies the signal and causes a cellular response. In this case, insulin binds to the insulin receptor in its dimeric form and activates the receptor's tyrosine-kinase domain. The receptor then recruits Insulin Receptor Substrate, or IRS-1, which binds the enzyme PI-3 kinase. PI-3 kinase converts the membrane lipid PIP2 to PIP3. PIP3 is specifically recognized by PKB (protein kinase B) and by PDK1, which can phosphorylate and activate PKB. Once phosphorylated, PKB is in its active form and phosphorylates TBC1D4, which inhibits the GTPase-activating domain associated with TBC1D4, allowing for Rab protein to change from its GDP to GTP bound state. Inhibition of the GTPase-activating domain leaves proteins next in the cascade in their active form, and stimulates GLUT4 to be expressed on the plasma membrane.[23]

RAC1 is a GTPase also activated by insulin. Rac1 stimulates reorganization of the cortical Actin cytoskeleton[24] which allows for the GLUT4 vesicles to be inserted into the plasma membrane.[25] [26] A RAC1 Knockout mouse has reduced glucose uptake in muscle tissue.

Knockout mice that are heterozygous for GLUT4 develop insulin resistance in their muscles as well as diabetes.[27]

Muscle contraction

Muscle contraction stimulates muscle cells to translocate GLUT4 receptors to their surfaces. This is especially true in cardiac muscle, where continuous contraction increases the rate of GLUT4 translocation; but is observed to a lesser extent in increased skeletal muscle contraction.[28] In skeletal muscle, muscle contractions increase GLUT4 translocation severalfold,[29] and this is likely regulated by RAC1[30] [31] and AMP-activated protein kinase.[32]

Muscle stretching

Muscle stretching also stimulates GLUT4 translocation and glucose uptake in rodent muscle via RAC1.[33]

Interactions

GLUT4 has been shown to interact with death-associated protein 6, also known as Daxx. Daxx, which is used to regulate apoptosis, has been shown to associate with GLUT4 in the cytoplasm. UBX-domains, such as the one found in GLUT4, have been shown to associate with apoptotic signaling. So this interaction aids in the translocation of Daxx within the cell.[34]

In addition, recent reports demonstrated the presence of GLUT4 gene in central nervous system such as the hippocampus. Moreover, impairment in insulin-stimulated trafficking of GLUT4 in the hippocampus result in decreased metabolic activities and plasticity of hippocampal neurons, which leads to depressive like behaviour and cognitive dysfunction.[35] [36] [37]

External links

Notes and References

  1. James DE, Brown R, Navarro J, Pilch PF . Insulin-regulatable tissues express a unique insulin-sensitive glucose transport protein . Nature . 333 . 6169 . 183–5 . May 1988 . 3285221 . 10.1038/333183a0 . 1988Natur.333..183J . 4237493 .
  2. James DE, Strube M, Mueckler M . Molecular cloning and characterization of an insulin-regulatable glucose transporter . Nature . 338 . 6210 . 83–7 . March 1989 . 2645527 . 10.1038/338083a0 . 1989Natur.338...83J . 4285627 .
  3. Birnbaum MJ . Identification of a novel gene encoding an insulin-responsive glucose transporter protein . Cell . 57 . 2 . 305–15 . April 1989 . 2649253 . 10.1016/0092-8674(89)90968-9 . 20359706 .
  4. Bell GI, Murray JC, Nakamura Y, Kayano T, Eddy RL, Fan YS, Byers MG, Shows TB . Polymorphic human insulin-responsive glucose-transporter gene on chromosome 17p13 . Diabetes . 38 . 8 . 1072–5 . August 1989 . 2568955 . 10.2337/diabetes.38.8.1072 .
  5. Watson RT, Kanzaki M, Pessin JE . Regulated membrane trafficking of the insulin-responsive glucose transporter 4 in adipocytes . Endocrine Reviews . 25 . 2 . 177–204 . April 2004 . 15082519 . 10.1210/er.2003-0011 . free .
  6. Huang S, Czech MP . The GLUT4 glucose transporter . Cell Metabolism . 5 . 4 . 237–52 . April 2007 . 17403369 . 10.1016/j.cmet.2007.03.006 . free .
  7. Mueckler M, Thorens B . The SLC2 (GLUT) family of membrane transporters . Molecular Aspects of Medicine . 34 . 2–3 . 121–38 . 2013 . 23506862 . 4104978 . 10.1016/j.mam.2012.07.001 .
  8. Richter EA, Hargreaves M . Exercise, GLUT4, and skeletal muscle glucose uptake . en . Physiological Reviews . 93 . 3 . 993–1017 . July 2013 . 23899560 . 10.1152/physrev.00038.2012 .
  9. Ploug T, van Deurs B, Ai H, Cushman SW, Ralston E . Analysis of GLUT4 distribution in whole skeletal muscle fibers: identification of distinct storage compartments that are recruited by insulin and muscle contractions . en . The Journal of Cell Biology . 142 . 6 . 1429–46 . September 1998 . 9744875 . 10.1083/jcb.142.6.1429 . 2141761.
  10. Lauritzen HP . Insulin- and contraction-induced glucose transporter 4 traffic in muscle: insights from a novel imaging approach . Exercise and Sport Sciences Reviews . 41 . 2 . 77–86 . April 2013 . 23072821 . 3602324 . 10.1097/JES.0b013e318275574c .
  11. Morgan HE, Henderson MJ, Regen DM, Park CR . Regulation of glucose uptake in heart muscle from normal and alloxan-diabetic rats: the effects of insulin, growth hormone, cortisone, and anoxia . Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences . 82 . 2 . 387–402 . September 1959 . 14424107 . 10.1111/j.1749-6632.1959.tb44920.x. 1959NYASA..82..387M . 32458568 .
  12. Laybutt DR, Thompson AL, Cooney GJ, Kraegen EW . Selective chronic regulation of GLUT1 and GLUT4 content by insulin, glucose, and lipid in rat cardiac muscle in vivo . en . The American Journal of Physiology . 273 . 3 Pt 2 . H1309–16 . September 1997 . 9321820 . 10.1152/ajpheart.1997.273.3.H1309.
  13. Rett K, Wicklmayr M, Dietze GJ, Häring HU . Insulin-induced glucose transporter (GLUT1 and GLUT4) translocation in cardiac muscle tissue is mimicked by bradykinin . en . Diabetes . 45 Suppl 1 . Supplement 1 . S66–9 . January 1996 . 8529803 . 10.2337/diab.45.1.S66 . 7766813 .
  14. Slot JW, Geuze HJ, Gigengack S, James DE, Lienhard GE . Translocation of the glucose transporter GLUT4 in cardiac myocytes of the rat . en . Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America . 88 . 17 . 7815–9 . September 1991 . 1881917 . 52394 . 10.1073/pnas.88.17.7815. 1991PNAS...88.7815S . free .
  15. Luiken JJ, Glatz JF, Neumann D . Cardiac contraction-induced GLUT4 translocation requires dual signaling input . Trends Endocrinol Metab . 26 . 8 . 404–10 . August 2015 . 26138758 . 10.1016/j.tem.2015.06.002 . 171571 .
  16. News: Adipose tissue. ScienceDaily. 2017-05-24.
  17. Favaretto F, Milan G, Collin GB, Marshall JD, Stasi F, Maffei P, Vettor R, Naggert JK . GLUT4 defects in adipose tissue are early signs of metabolic alterations in Alms1GT/GT, a mouse model for obesity and insulin resistance . PLOS ONE . 9 . 10 . e109540 . 2014-10-09 . 25299671 . 4192353 . 10.1371/journal.pone.0109540 . 2014PLoSO...9j9540F . free .
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  19. Web site: Insulin Synthesis and Secretion. www.vivo.colostate.edu. 2017-05-24.
  20. Fu. Zhuo. Regulation of Insulin Synthesis and Secretion and Pancreatic Beta-Cell Dysfunction in Diabetes. Curr Diabetes Rev. 2013. 9. 1. 25–53. 10.2174/1573399811309010025. 22974359. 3934755.
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  23. Leto. Dara. Saltiel. Alan R.. May 2012 . Regulation of glucose transport by insulin: traffic control of GLUT4. Nature Reviews Molecular Cell Biology. En. 13. 6. 383–396. 10.1038/nrm3351. 22617471. 39756994. 1471-0072.
  24. JeBailey L, Wanono O, Niu W, Roessler J, Rudich A, Klip A . Ceramide- and oxidant-induced insulin resistance involve loss of insulin-dependent Rac-activation and actin remodeling in muscle cells . Diabetes . 56 . 2 . 394–403 . February 2007 . 17259384 . 10.2337/db06-0823 . free .
  25. Sylow L, Kleinert M, Pehmøller C, Prats C, Chiu TT, Klip A, Richter EA, Jensen TE . Akt and Rac1 signaling are jointly required for insulin-stimulated glucose uptake in skeletal muscle and downregulated in insulin resistance . Cellular Signalling . 26 . 2 . 323–31 . February 2014 . 24216610 . 10.1016/j.cellsig.2013.11.007 .
  26. Sylow L, Jensen TE, Kleinert M, Højlund K, Kiens B, Wojtaszewski J, Prats C, Schjerling P, Richter EA . Rac1 signaling is required for insulin-stimulated glucose uptake and is dysregulated in insulin-resistant murine and human skeletal muscle . Diabetes . 62 . 6 . 1865–75 . June 2013 . 23423567 . 3661612 . 10.2337/db12-1148 .
  27. Stenbit AE, Tsao TS, Li J, Burcelin R, Geenen DL, Factor SM, Houseknecht K, Katz EB, Charron MJ . GLUT4 heterozygous knockout mice develop muscle insulin resistance and diabetes . Nature Medicine . 3 . 10 . 1096–101 . October 1997 . 9334720 . 10.1038/nm1097-1096 . 8643507 .
  28. Lund S, Holman GD, Schmitz O, Pedersen O . Contraction stimulates translocation of glucose transporter GLUT4 in skeletal muscle through a mechanism distinct from that of insulin . Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America . 92 . 13 . 5817–21 . June 1995 . 7597034 . 41592 . 10.1073/pnas.92.13.5817 . 1995PNAS...92.5817L . free .
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  30. Sylow L, Møller LL, Kleinert M, Richter EA, Jensen TE . Rac1--a novel regulator of contraction-stimulated glucose uptake in skeletal muscle . Experimental Physiology . 99 . 12 . 1574–80 . December 2014 . 25239922 . 10.1113/expphysiol.2014.079194 . free .
  31. Sylow L, Jensen TE, Kleinert M, Mouatt JR, Maarbjerg SJ, Jeppesen J, Prats C, Chiu TT, Boguslavsky S, Klip A, Schjerling P, Richter EA . Rac1 is a novel regulator of contraction-stimulated glucose uptake in skeletal muscle . Diabetes . 62 . 4 . 1139–51 . April 2013 . 23274900 . 3609592 . 10.2337/db12-0491 .
  32. Mu J, Brozinick JT, Valladares O, Bucan M, Birnbaum MJ . A role for AMP-activated protein kinase in contraction- and hypoxia-regulated glucose transport in skeletal muscle . Molecular Cell . 7 . 5 . 1085–94 . May 2001 . 11389854 . 10.1016/s1097-2765(01)00251-9 . free .
  33. Sylow L, Møller LL, Kleinert M, Richter EA, Jensen TE . Stretch-stimulated glucose transport in skeletal muscle is regulated by Rac1 . The Journal of Physiology . 593 . 3 . 645–56 . February 2015 . 25416624 . 4324711 . 10.1113/jphysiol.2014.284281 .
  34. Lalioti VS, Vergarajauregui S, Pulido D, Sandoval IV . The insulin-sensitive glucose transporter, GLUT4, interacts physically with Daxx. Two proteins with capacity to bind Ubc9 and conjugated to SUMO1 . The Journal of Biological Chemistry . 277 . 22 . 19783–91 . May 2002 . 11842083 . 10.1074/jbc.M110294200 . free .
  35. Patel SS, Udayabanu M . Urtica dioica extract attenuates depressive like behavior and associative memory dysfunction in dexamethasone induced diabetic mice . Metabolic Brain Disease . 29 . 1 . 121–30 . March 2014 . 24435938 . 10.1007/s11011-014-9480-0 . 10955351 .
  36. Piroli GG, Grillo CA, Reznikov LR, Adams S, McEwen BS, Charron MJ, Reagan LP . Corticosterone impairs insulin-stimulated translocation of GLUT4 in the rat hippocampus . Neuroendocrinology . 85 . 2 . 71–80 . 2007 . 17426391 . 10.1159/000101694 . 38081413 .
  37. Huang CC, Lee CC, Hsu KS . The role of insulin receptor signaling in synaptic plasticity and cognitive function . Chang Gung Medical Journal . 33 . 2 . 115–25 . 2010 . 20438663 .

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