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Updated: Aug 7, 2025

Extracellular Glucose Depletion as an Indirect Measure of Glucose Uptake in Cells and Tissues Ex Vivo
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Increased mesoscale diffusivity in response to acute glucose starvation

Ying Xie1,2, David Gresham2, Liam J Holt1

  • 1Institute for Systems Genetics, New York University Langone Medical Center, New York, New York, United States.

Micropublication Biology
|March 13, 2023
PubMed

Insights

Macromolecular crowding in cells changes during glucose starvation. Researchers found that messenger ribonucleoprotein (mRNP) particle movement slowed, while fluorescent nanoparticle movement increased, suggesting reduced cytoplasmic crowding.

Area of Science:

  • Cell biology
  • Biophysics
  • Biochemistry

Background:

  • Macromolecular crowding is a fundamental cellular property influencing biological processes.
  • Passive microrheology, particularly single particle tracking, is a key technique for investigating cellular crowding.
  • Understanding crowding dynamics is crucial for comprehending cellular function and response to stress.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the impact of acute glucose starvation on macromolecular crowding within cells.
  • To compare the diffusivity of messenger ribonucleoprotein (mRNP) complexes and synthetic nanoparticles under starvation conditions.
  • To elucidate the mechanisms behind observed changes in cellular diffusivity during metabolic stress.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized passive microrheology with single particle tracking.
  • Monitored the diffusivity of self-assembling fluorescent nanoparticles (μNS).
  • Tracked the movement of specific messenger ribonucleoprotein (mRNP) complexes (GFA1-PP7).

Main Results:

  • Messenger ribonucleoprotein (mRNP) diffusivity significantly decreased upon glucose starvation.
  • In contrast, the diffusivity of μNS nanoparticles showed a notable increase.
  • Observed differential responses in particle diffusion indicate complex changes in the cellular environment.

Conclusions:

  • Glucose starvation induces distinct changes in the diffusivity of different cellular components.
  • Reduced mRNP diffusivity may result from increased physical interactions within granules.
  • Increased nanoparticle diffusivity suggests a potential global reduction in cytoplasmic macromolecular crowding during starvation.

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