RESEARCH STARTER

Glucose Transporters

Glucose transporters are specialized proteins that facilitate the movement of glucose across cell membranes, which are otherwise impermeable to most substances due to their polar nature. These transporters play a crucial role in delivering glucose, a primary energy source for many mammalian cells, enabling various bodily functions essential for life. There are two main classes of glucose transporters: sodium-glucose cotransporters (SGLTs) and facilitative glucose transporters (GLUTs).

SGLTs are primarily involved in transporting glucose in the intestinal lumen by coupling glucose uptake with sodium ions. In contrast, GLUTs facilitate the bidirectional transport of glucose across cell membranes in multiple tissues. The GLUT family includes various subgroups, such as GLUT1, found in many tissues including fetal and red blood cells, GLUT2, located in organs like the liver and kidneys, and GLUT3, which is predominantly present in the brain.

The function of glucose transporters is closely linked to blood glucose levels, influencing insulin production in the pancreas and ensuring that critical organs like the brain and red blood cells receive a steady supply of glucose for energy. Understanding the role of these transporters is vital for comprehending metabolic processes and their implications in health and disease.

Authored By: Biscontini, Tyler 1 of 3
Published In: 2019 2 of 3
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Full Article

Glucose transporters allow glucose to be moved past the cell membrane. The plasma membrane normally stops most substances from traveling into or out of a cell. However, many body cells use glucose as fuel to carry out the functions necessary to maintain life. Though some cells may use protein as a type of fuel, many use primarily glucose.

Glucose transporters are commonly divided into numerous categories and subgroups. These include SGLTs, GLUT1, GLUT2, and GLUT3. SGLTs help transport glucose in the intestinal lumen. GLUT1 glucose transporters are commonly found in fetal tissue and red blood cells. GLUT2 transporters are found in several organs, including the kidneys and small intestine. GLUT3 glucose transporters are primarily found in the brain.

Overview

Glucose is an important source of energy for mammalian cells. However, glucose is a polar molecule, which means it is stopped by the cell’s plasma membrane. Specialized proteins called glucose transporters carry glucose across the plasma membrane. These proteins, which can be found inside the plasma membrane, bind to glucose molecules and transport them across the barrier.

Glucose transporters are divided into two classes: sodium-glucose cotransporters or symporters (SGLTs) and the facilitative glucose transporters (GLUTs). SGLTs help transport glucose in the intestinal lumen and combine the uptake of glucose with the uptake of sodium ions. SGLT2 transporters are important drug targets, and SGLT2 inhibitors are used to treat diabetes, heart failure, and chronic kidney disease. GLUTs help transport glucose in both directions across both tissues and cells. They have two sites that bind glucose: one on the exterior of the plasma membrane and another on the inside of the cell membrane. If a glucose molecule binds to one site, it is transported across the protein to the other site. Structural studies have revealed previously unknown intermediate states and transport mechanisms in human glucose transporters, improving understanding of how glucose moves across cell membranes.

The GLUT family of glucose transporters is divided into several subgroups. Those in GLUT1 are found in most tissues. However, the highest concentrations can be found in barrier tissues, fetal tissues, and red blood cells. Glucose transporters in GLUT2 are found in the liver, pancreas, small intestine, and kidney. The amount of glucose transported by these proteins is directly related to the amount of glucose in the blood. Additionally, they help the pancreas regulate insulin production.

Proteins in the GLUT3 family are primarily found in the brain. These proteins interact with neurons, helping fuel glucose reactions. They allow neural cells to absorb glucose at a constant, steady rate, regardless of how much glucose is present in the bloodstream.

Glucose is used as energy for many parts of the human body. It provides human cells with the energy they need to carry out their functions. Though much of the human body can also use fats and, under certain conditions, protein as a source of energy, some tissues rely primarily on glucose. These include red blood cells, which require glucose, and the brain, which primarily uses glucose under normal conditions.

Bibliography

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Hiraizumi, Makoto, et al. “Transport and Inhibition Mechanism of the Human SGLT2–MAP17 Glucose Transporter.” Nature Structural & Molecular Biology, vol. 31, 2024, pp. 159–69. Nature Publishing Group, doi:10.1038/s41594-023-01134-0. Accessed 3 June 2026.

“Hyperglycemia: When Your Blood Glucose Level Goes Too High,” Endocrine Web, 2019, www.endocrineweb.com/conditions/hyperglycemia/hyperglycemia-when-your-blood-glucose-level-goes-too-high. Accessed 19 Mar. 2019.

Robertson, Sally. “Glucose Transporter Proteins,” News Medical Life Sciences, 2019, www.news-medical.net/life-sciences/Glucose-Transporter-Proteins.aspx. Accessed 3 June 2026.

Wasik, Anita A. “Glucose Transporters in Diabetic Kidney Disease – Friends or Foes?” Frontiers, 9 Apr. 2018, www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fendo.2018.00155/full. Accessed 3 June 2026.

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“Year in Review 2024-2025: Cutting-Edge Research on SGLT2 Inhibitors.” Wireless Life Sciences, Wireless Life Sciences, 7 July 2025, wirelesslifesciences.org/2025/07/year-in-review-2024-2025-cutting-edge-research-on-sglt2-inhibitors/. Accessed 3 June 2026.