Effect of cholesterol on the reconstituted D-glucose transport system of human erythrocyte membranes.

Human erythrocyte membranes were solubilized by cholate. Reconstitution into phospholipid liposomes containing different amounts of cholesterol was performed by chromatographic removal of cholate. Glucose transport was determined as the differential uptake of radioactive D- and L-glucose. The reconstituted glucose transport activity decreased with increasing concentration of cholesterol up to about 20 mole percent. Further increase in cholesterol concentration resulted in an increase in the glucose transport activity.