Tissue distribution of the human GLUT3 glucose transporter

The tissue distribution of the GLUT3 glucose transporter protein was examined in human tissues using a rabbit antiserum directed against the C-terminal peptide sequence of human GLUT3. This anti-serum was shown to recognize the human GLUT3 protein in Chinese hamster ovary cells transfected with GLUT3 cDNA and to immunoprecipitate an authentic glucose transport protein in brain and testis membranes, as assessed by glucose-inhibitable photolabeling with [3H] cytochalasin-B. The GLUT3 protein, migrating with an apparent mol wt of approximately 48 kilodaltons, was strongly expressed in brain and testis membranes as well as in spermatozoa. It was not detectable in membranes from erythrocytes, adipocytes, heart, skeletal muscle, liver, kidney, spleen, thyroid, and prostate. Very low levels may be present in placenta. In brain, GLUT3 protein was strongly expressed in grey matter regions and was only weakly expressed in white matter, suggesting that it may be important in providing glucose to regions of high metabolic activity, i.e. to areas associated with synaptic transmission. None was found in peripheral (femoral) nerve. It appeared to be stable for up to 47 h in autopsy brain tissue kept at 4 C. The tissue distribution of human GLUT3 protein thus appears to be highly restricted (brain and testis/spermatozoa), in contrast with a previous report. Its function may be to provide a high affinity glucose transport system in cells that are highly dependent on glucose as a fuel source.