Regulated transport of the glucose transporter GLUT4

Nat Rev Mol Cell Biol. 2002 Apr;3(4):267-77. doi: 10.1038/nrm782.

Abstract

In muscle and fat cells, insulin stimulates the delivery of the glucose transporter GLUT4 from an intracellular location to the cell surface, where it facilitates the reduction of plasma glucose levels. Understanding the molecular mechanisms that mediate this translocation event involves integrating our knowledge of two fundamental processes--the signal transduction pathways that are triggered when insulin binds to its receptor and the membrane transport events that need to be modified to divert GLUT4 from intracellular storage to an active plasma membrane shuttle service.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Adipocytes / metabolism
  • Animals
  • Biological Transport, Active
  • Endosomes / metabolism
  • Glucose Transporter Type 4
  • Golgi Apparatus / metabolism
  • Humans
  • Insulin / metabolism
  • Membrane Proteins / metabolism
  • Models, Biological
  • Monosaccharide Transport Proteins / chemistry
  • Monosaccharide Transport Proteins / metabolism*
  • Muscle Proteins*
  • Muscles / metabolism
  • SNARE Proteins
  • Signal Transduction
  • Vesicular Transport Proteins*

Substances

  • Glucose Transporter Type 4
  • Insulin
  • Membrane Proteins
  • Monosaccharide Transport Proteins
  • Muscle Proteins
  • SLC2A4 protein, human
  • SNARE Proteins
  • Vesicular Transport Proteins