We have taken the approach of introducing the muscle-specific myosin light chain (MLC)-GLUT4 transgene into the GLUT4-null background to assess the relative role of muscle and adipose tissue GLUT4 in the etiology of the GLUT4-null phenotype. The resulting MLC-GLUT4-null mice express GLUT4 predominantly in the fast-twitch extensor digitorum longus (EDL) muscle. GLUT4 is nearly absent in female white adipose tissue (WAT) and slow-twitch soleus muscle of both sexes of MLC-GLUT4-null mice. GLUT4 content in male MLC-GLUT4-null WAT is 20% of that in control mice. In transgenically complemented EDL muscle, 2-deoxyglucose (2-DOG) uptake was restored to normal (male) or above normal (female) levels. In contrast, 2-DOG uptake in slow-twitch soleus muscle of MLC-GLUT4-null mice was not normalized. With the normalization of glucose uptake in fast-twitch skeletal muscle, whole body insulin action was restored in MLC-GLUT4-null mice, as shown by the results of the insulin tolerance test. These results demonstrate that skeletal muscle GLUT4 is a major regulator of skeletal muscle and whole body glucose metabolism. Despite normal skeletal muscle glucose uptake and insulin action, the MLC-GLUT4-null mice exhibited decreased adipose tissue deposits, adipocyte size, and fed plasma FFA levels that are characteristic of GLUT4-null mice. Together these results indicate that the defects in skeletal muscle and whole body glucose metabolism and adipose tissue in GLUT4-null mice arise independently.