title: Neurons and microvessels express the brain glucose transporter protein GLUT3.
abstract: To elucidate glucose transport mechanisms in brain and to demonstrate the cellular expression of the brain-type glucose transporter (GLUT3), antisera to a synthetic peptide corresponding to the C terminus were prepared and used as probes for this isoform of the facilitative glucose transporter family. Immunocytochemistry of frozen sections of dog and rat brain demonstrated GLUT3 antigen in pyramidal cell bodies and processes, in microvessels, and in intima pia or glia limitans. Immunoanalysis of Western blots identified a protein (Mr, 45,000) that was present in both neuron/neuropil and microvessel fractions. The presence of the GLUT3 message in brain was confirmed by Northern blot analysis and by amplifying and partially sequencing GLUT3 cDNA by PCR. These findings demonstrate a neuron glucose transporter in tissue and suggest that GLUT3 may play an important role in brain metabolism under physiological and pathophysiological conditions.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Medicine, University of Minnesota, Duluth 55812.
authors.forename: D Z
authors.initials: DZ
authors.lastname: Gerhart
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Broderius
authors.forename: N D
authors.initials: ND
authors.lastname: Borson
authors.forename: L R
authors.initials: LR
authors.lastname: Drewes
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D015152:Blotting, Northern; D015153:Blotting, Western; D001921:Brain / Q000378:metabolism*; D004285:Dogs; D015870:Gene Expression; D008833:Microcirculation / Q000502:physiology*; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D008970:Molecular Weight; D009004:Monosaccharide Transport Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D009474:Neurons / Q000502:physiology*; D010455:Peptides / Q000276:immunology; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics; D051381:Rats
chemical_list: D009004:Monosaccharide Transport Proteins; D010455:Peptides; D012333:RNA, Messenger