Hexose transport after glucose refeeding of glucose-starved human fibroblasts: 1. The effects of tunicamycin and cycloheximide. 2. Insulin binding and action.

Hexose transport in glucose-starved human fibroblasts was readily reversed by glucose refeeding. This hexose transport reversal was not inhibited by tunicamycin (1.5 microgram/ml) but was blocked by cycloheximide (20 micrograms/ml). The ability of insulin (100 mU/ml) to stimulate hexose transport was returned by glucose refeeding and this was not affected by tunicamycin. Cycloheximide which blocked the glucose refeeding effect on hexose transport, decreased the ability of insulin to stimulate hexose transport. Specific 125I-insulin binding was increased by glucose refeeding of glucose-starved cells and this change in binding was inhibited by tunicamycin and cycloheximide. Thus, it appears that under the conditions employed in human fibroblasts, the ability of insulin to stimulate hexose transport is differentially regulated more by factors affecting basal hexose transport than by those affecting changes in insulin binding.