Submitted on March 20, 2008
Revised on May 6, 2008
Accepted on May 16, 2008
Transcriptional Regulation of the insulin-responsive glucose transporter GLUT4 Gene: From Physiology to Pathology
Eddy Karnieli1* and Michal Armoni1
1 Rambam Medical Center and Technion-Israel Institute of Technology
* To whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail: eddy{at}tx.technion.ac.il.
The insulin-responsive glucose transporter 4 (GLUT4) plays a key role in glucose uptake and metabolism in insulin target tissues. Being a rate-limiting step in glucose metabolism, the expression and function of the GLUT4 isoform has been extensively studied and found to be tightly regulated at both mRNA and protein levels. Adaptation to states of enhanced metabolic demand is associated with increased glucose metabolism and GLUT4 gene expression, while states of insulin resistance like type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM2), obesity and aging are associated with impaired regulation of GLUT4 gene expression and function. The present review focuses on the interplay between hormonal, nutritional, and transcription factors in the regulation of GLUT4 transcription in health and sickness.
