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Glucose Transporters

Glucose Transporters

Glucose transporters facilitate the transport of glucose across the cell membrane. In addition to glucose, some glucose transporters can also aid the movement of other hexoses such as fructose, mannose, and galactose.
Facilitated diffusion-glucose transporters (GLUTs) are encoded by the solute-linked carrier (SLC) family 2, subfamily A gene family, or SLC2A. The 14 GLUT protein members are distributed into three classes:

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Membrane Proteins

Membrane Proteins

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Hormones Regulating Blood Glucose

Hormones Regulating Blood Glucose

Insulin is released by beta cells of the pancreas when blood glucose levels are high. It facilitates glucose absorption and utilization in insulin-dependent cells with insulin receptors on their plasma membranes. Insulin promotes glucose uptake by increasing the number of glucose transport proteins in the cell membrane, allowing glucose to enter the cell. As a result, glucose utilization and ATP production are enhanced.
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Glucose Absorption Into the Small Intestine

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Complex carbohydrates consumed cannot be absorbed into the small intestine in their original form. First, they must be hydrolyzed to a monosaccharide form such as glucose or galactose. These monosaccharides are then transported across the intestinal membrane and into the blood via transcellular transport. The intestinal epithelial cells allow the movement of these monosaccharides with a defined 'entry' through membrane transporter proteins present on their apical membrane and...

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Dec 17, 2025

Measurement of Insulin- and Contraction-Stimulated Glucose Uptake in Isolated and Incubated Mature Skeletal Muscle from Mice

Measurement of Insulin- and Contraction-Stimulated Glucose Uptake in Isolated and Incubated Mature Skeletal Muscle from Mice

Published on: May 16, 2021

Exercise and GLUT4.

Marcelo Flores-Opazo¹, Sean L McGee², Mark Hargreaves³

¹Laboratory of Exercise and Physical Activity Sciences, Department of Physiotherapy, University Finis Terrae, Santiago, Chile.

Exercise and Sport Sciences Reviews

|June 23, 2020

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

Exercise enhances glucose uptake in skeletal muscles by increasing glucose transporter type 4 (GLUT4) translocation and expression. This review covers exercise effects on GLUT4, improving muscle metabolism and insulin sensitivity.

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Last Updated: Dec 17, 2025

Measurement of Insulin- and Contraction-Stimulated Glucose Uptake in Isolated and Incubated Mature Skeletal Muscle from Mice

Measurement of Insulin- and Contraction-Stimulated Glucose Uptake in Isolated and Incubated Mature Skeletal Muscle from Mice

Published on: May 16, 2021

Quantitative Measurement of GLUT4 Translocation to the Plasma Membrane by Flow Cytometry

Quantitative Measurement of GLUT4 Translocation to the Plasma Membrane by Flow Cytometry

Published on: November 7, 2010

Glucose Uptake Measurement and Response to Insulin Stimulation in In Vitro Cultured Human Primary Myotubes

Glucose Uptake Measurement and Response to Insulin Stimulation in In Vitro Cultured Human Primary Myotubes

Published on: June 25, 2017

Area of Science:

Exercise physiology
Molecular biology
Metabolic research

Background:

Glucose transporter type 4 (GLUT4) is essential for insulin-stimulated and exercise-induced glucose uptake in skeletal muscle.
Exercise impacts GLUT4 at multiple levels, including its movement to the cell surface and overall protein levels.

Purpose of the Study:

To review the multifaceted role of GLUT4 in skeletal muscle during and after exercise.
To highlight the relationship between exercise, GLUT4 dynamics, and muscle insulin sensitivity.

Main Methods:

Literature review of studies on GLUT4 biology and exercise.
Analysis of data concerning GLUT4 translocation, expression, and metabolic effects.

Main Results:

Exercise acutely increases GLUT4 translocation to the sarcolemma and t-tubules.
Chronic exercise leads to increased total GLUT4 protein content in skeletal muscle.
These adaptations enhance postexercise glucose metabolism and insulin sensitivity.

Conclusions:

Exercise is a potent stimulus for GLUT4 regulation in skeletal muscle.
Understanding GLUT4's response to exercise is key to optimizing metabolic health and athletic performance.