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. The gene that encodes GLUT4 was cloned and mapped in 1989. 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.
Background References
1. Lu H et al. Transient hypoxia reprograms differentiating adipocytes for enhanced insulin sensitivity and triglyceride accumulation. Int J Obes (Lond) 40:121-8 (2016).
2. Zhou Y et al. MicroRNA-29a induces insulin resistance by targeting PPARd in skeletal muscle cells. Int J Mol Med 37:931-8 (2016).
Sequence Similarity
Belongs to the major facilitator superfamily. Sugar transporter (TC 2.A.1.1) family. Glucose transporter subfamily.
Tissue Specificity
Skeletal and cardiac muscles; brown and white fat.
Post-translational Modification
Sumoylated.; Palmitoylated. Palmitoylation by ZDHHC7 controls the insulin-dependent translocation of GLUT4 to the plasma membrane.
Western blot analysis of Phospho-Glucose Transporter GLUT4 (S488) on mouse heart tissue lysates (no heat) with Rabbit anti-Phospho-Glucose Transporter GLUT4 (S488) antibody (HA721866) at 1/1,000 dilution.
Notice: no heat means the lysate is not boiled.
Lysates/proteins at 30 µg/Lane.
Predicted band size: 55 kDa Observed band size: 50 kDa
Exposure time: 3 minutes;
4-20% SDS-PAGE gel.
Proteins were transferred to a PVDF membrane and blocked with 5% NFDM/TBST for 1 hour at room temperature. The primary antibody (HA721866) at 1/1,000 dilution was used in 5% NFDM/TBST at 4℃ overnight. Goat Anti-Rabbit IgG - HRP Secondary Antibody (HA1001) at 1/50,000 dilution was used for 1 hour at room temperature.
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