Molecular Tools for Facilitative Carbohydrate Transporters (Gluts)

Abstract

Facilitative carbohydrate transporters-Gluts-have received wide attention over decades due to their essential role in nutrient uptake and links with various metabolic disorders, including diabetes, obesity, and cancer. Endeavors directed towards understanding the mechanisms of Glut-mediated nutrient uptake have resulted in a multidisciplinary research field spanning protein chemistry, chemical biology, organic synthesis, crystallography, and biomolecular modeling. Gluts became attractive targets for cancer research and medicinal chemistry, leading to the development of new approaches to cancer diagnostics and providing avenues for cancer-targeting therapeutics. In this review, the current state of knowledge of the molecular interactions behind Glut-mediated sugar uptake, Glut-targeting probes, therapeutics, and inhibitors are discussed.

JAZF1, a relevant metabolic regulator in type 2 diabetes

“…It is also demonstrated that insulin/AKT signalling pathway mediates the impact of JAZF1 on hepatic gluconeogenic gene expression . Under IR state, the absorption of glucose in the insulin‐targeting organ is attenuated due to decreased Glucose transporter protein (GLUTs) expression . Both animal studies and in vitro studies reported that JAZF1 up‐regulated the mRNA expression of GLUT2 expression in the liver, which is the major glucose transporter of hepatocyte .…”

8-Hydroxyquinoline Glycoconjugates Containing Sulfur at the Sugar Anomeric Position—Synthesis and Preliminary Evaluation of Their Cytotoxicity

“…One of the strategies developed for delivering anticancer drugs is the use of glucose transporting proteins [ 6 , 7 ]. Compared to healthy cells, rapidly proliferating cancer cells have a different energy metabolism, characterized by a high rate of glycolysis process, known as the Warburg effect [ 8 , 9 ].…”

Fluorescent conjugates of D-glucosamine with 3-thiazolylcoumarins: synthesis, characterization and potential use as cell imaging agents

“…Glucose and its derivatives get into the cell mainly through GLUTs (Glucose Transporters), membrane proteins facilitating the glucose transport across the cell membrane [30,31]. Sugar-drug conjugates are extensively used in cell imaging and drug delivery systems based on monosaccharide transport proteins [10,15,16,31]. Main requirements for the efficient uptake of the conjugates are as small as possible size of the aglycone and the absence of permanently charged groups [26,32].…”