Solute carrier family 2, facilitated glucose transporter member 5 (GLUT5) (GLUT5)

Solute carrier family 2, facilitated glucose transporter member 5 (GLUT5) is a specialized hexose transporter primarily responsible for the facilitated diffusion of fructose across the apical membrane of enterocytes in the small intestine (UniProt P22732). Unlike other members of the GLUT family, GLUT5 exhibits high specificity for fructose and does not transport glucose or galactose under physiological conditions (PMID: 28844478). It is also expressed in other tissues such as the kidneys, brain, skeletal muscle, and adipose tissue, where it contributes to systemic fructose homeostasis. In disease states, GLUT5 is often upregulated; for instance, its overexpression in various cancers, such as breast and colorectal cancer, allows tumor cells to utilize fructose as an alternative carbon source for proliferation (PMID: 30143548). Additionally, excessive GLUT5-mediated fructose absorption is linked to the development of metabolic disorders like obesity, type 2 diabetes, and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). As a result, GLUT5 is being investigated as a therapeutic target, with research focusing on small-molecule inhibitors like MSL-7 to mitigate fructose-driven pathologies (PMID: 30655311).

Other names

SLC2A5Glucose transporter member 5Fructose transporterSmall intestine fructose transporter

Inhibition of the GLUT5-mediated facilitated diffusion of fructose across cell membranes to reduce systemic absorption or intracellular fructose utilization.