SGLT and GLUT: Are they teammates? Focus on 'mouse SGLT3a generates proton-activated currents but does not transport sugar'

摘要

more than 25 years ago, it was hypothesized that a specific enzyme, glucokinase, acted as a "glucose sensor" in pancreatic R-cells (9). However, after the discovery of different glucose transporter proteins in the mid- to late-1980s, the hypothesis proposed by several groups evolved to include a transporter molecule, GLUT2, as part of a glucose sensing mechanism (10, 13).GLUT is one type of transporter protein (gene family SLC2A) that has no less than 14 distinctive isoforms, whose primary role appears to aid in facilitative diffusion of different hexoses or polyol across cell membranes (12). A classification of the different GLUT proteins was proposed by Joost and associates (8) based on their tissue distribution, hormonal regulation, lack of a glycosylation site, and other properties.With the identification of different isoforms of GLUT, further research revealed more specific and exact conclusions and relevance of the GLUT proteins.