Solute carrier family 2, facilitated glucose transporter (GLUT) (SLC2A)

The Solute carrier family 2 (SLC2A), commonly known as the glucose transporter (GLUT) family, consists of 14 members that facilitate the transport of glucose and other hexoses across the plasma membrane (UniProt, 2023). These proteins are essential for maintaining glucose homeostasis, as they allow for the passive, carrier-mediated movement of sugars down their concentration gradients (StatPearls, 2023). Different isoforms exhibit tissue-specific expression and distinct kinetic properties; for instance, GLUT1 is widely expressed and critical for glucose uptake in the brain, while GLUT4 is insulin-responsive and primarily found in muscle and adipose tissue (NCBI Gene, 2024). In disease states, GLUTs are often dysregulated; GLUT1 is frequently overexpressed in various cancers to support the high glycolytic demand, known as the Warburg effect, making it a target for oncology therapeutics (PubMed, 2022). Conversely, impaired GLUT4 translocation is a hallmark of insulin resistance in type 2 diabetes (NIH, 2023). Pharmacological modulation of GLUTs includes the development of selective inhibitors for cancer treatment and agents that enhance transporter activity or translocation for metabolic disorders (PubChem, 2024).

Other names

GLUTGlucose transporter familySLC2 familyFacilitative glucose transporter

Facilitated diffusion of glucose and other hexoses across cell membranes along a concentration gradient, mediated by conformational changes in the transporter protein (StatPearls, 2023; UniProt, 2024).