Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 12, 2025
08:55
Expression, Solubilization, and Purification of Eukaryotic Borate Transporters
Published on: March 7, 2019
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GLUT2/SLC2A2 is a bi-directional urate transporter.
Yu Toyoda1, Ryuichiro Shigesawa2, Tony R Merriman3
1Department of Integrative Physiology and Bio-Nano Medicine, National Defense Medical College, Tokorozawa, Saitama, Japan; Department of Pharmacy, The University of Tokyo Hospital, Bunkyo, Tokyo, Japan.
The Journal of Biological Chemistry
|April 10, 2025
Summary
Glucose transporter 2 (GLUT2) also transports urate, acting as a bi-directional transporter. This discovery enhances understanding of how the body handles urate and may impact future research on related conditions.
Area of Science:
- Biochemistry
- Molecular Biology
- Physiology
Background:
- Genetic studies link solute carrier 2A2 (SLC2A2), encoding glucose transporter 2 (GLUT2), to serum urate levels.
- GLUT2's role as a sugar transporter is well-established, but its urate transport activity remains uninvestigated.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the hypothesis that GLUT2 functions as a urate transporter.
- To characterize the mechanism and physiological relevance of GLUT2-mediated urate transport.
Main Methods:
- Cell-based functional assays using HEK-derived 293A cells.
- Utilized radiolabeled [8-14C]-urate to quantify cellular uptake.
- Investigated concentration dependence and effects of glucose and urate on transport.
- Conducted cell-based urate efflux assays.
Main Results:
- GLUT2-expressing cells showed significantly higher [8-14C]-urate incorporation compared to controls, inhibited by GLUT2 inhibitors.
- GLUT2-mediated urate transport exhibited no saturation within 0-500 μM, indicating robust transport.
- GLUT2-mediated urate and sugar transport occurred independently at physiologically relevant concentrations.
- Urate secretion was accelerated in GLUT2-expressing cells, suggesting GLUT2 functions as a urate exporter.
Conclusions:
- GLUT2 is confirmed as a bi-directional urate transporter, facilitating both uptake and secretion.
- This finding expands the known functions of GLUT2 beyond glucose transport.
- Further research is needed to fully elucidate the physiological role of GLUT2 in systemic urate handling.
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