Sequence, tissue distribution, and differential expression of mRNA for a putative insulin-responsive glucose transporter in mouse 3T3-L1 adipocytes.

The cDNAs for two putative glucose transporters from mouse 3T3-L1 adipocytes were isolated and sequenced. One of these cDNAs encodes the murine homolog of the human hepG2/erythrocyte glucose transporter, termed GT1. GT1 mRNA is most abundant in mouse brain and is expressed in both 3T3-L1 preadipocytes and adipocytes. The other cDNA encodes a glucose transporter-like protein, termed GT2, that has a unique amino acid sequence and tissue distribution. GT2 cDNA encodes a protein with 63% amino acid sequence identity and a similar structural organization to GT1. GT2 mRNA is found at high levels in mouse skeletal muscle, heart, and adipose tissue, all of which exhibit insulin-stimulated glucose uptake. GT2 mRNA is absent from 3T3-L1 preadipocytes but is induced dramatically during differentiation into adipocytes. This increase in mRNA content correlates closely with the acquisition of insulin-stimulated glucose uptake. We propose that GT2 is an insulin-regulated glucose transporter.