Glucose Transporter 3 is a protein that glut3 is predominantly expressed in neurons and has the highest glucose transport activity among glut isoforms [3]:. This page describes its structure, normal nervous system function, role in neurodegenerative disease, and potential as a therapeutic target.
GLUT3 (Glucose Transporter 3), encoded by the SLC2A3 gene, is a high-affinity glucose transporter essential for neuronal energy metabolism and function [1]. [1]
| Property | Value | [2]
|----------|-------| [3]
| Gene | SLC2A3 | [4]
| UniProt ID | P11166 | [5]
| Molecular Weight | 54 kDa |
| Subcellular Localization | Plasma membrane |
| Protein Family | Major Facilitator Superfamily (MFS) |
GLUT3 contains 12 transmembrane helices arranged in a typical MFS transporter fold. The protein has a high affinity for glucose (Km ~1-2 mM), allowing efficient glucose uptake even when extracellular glucose concentrations are low, as is the case in the brain [2].
GLUT3 is predominantly expressed in neurons and has the highest glucose transport activity among GLUT isoforms [3]:
GLUT3 expression is reduced in AD brain, particularly in affected regions like hippocampus and entorhinal cortex [4]. Impaired neuronal glucose uptake contributes to hypometabolism observed in AD. Reduced GLUT3 may exacerbate amyloid toxicity through energy failure. Some studies suggest GLUT3 variants may modify AD risk.
Dopaminergic neurons have high glucose requirements, making GLUT3 critical [5]. Reduced GLUT3 expression observed in substantia nigra of PD patients. May contribute to selective vulnerability of dopaminergic neurons. Energy deficiency is a key factor in PD pathogenesis.
| Partner | Interaction Type | Function |
|---|---|---|
| Insulin signaling | Regulation | Glucose uptake modulation |
| AMPK | Phosphorylation | Energy sensing |
| mTOR | Regulation | Growth and survival signaling |
GLUT3 in neuronal glucose metabolism (Journal of Cerebral Blood Flow & Metabolism, 2020). 2020. ↩︎
GLUT3 structural mechanism (Biochimica et Biophysica Acta, 2019). 2019. ↩︎
Neuronal glucose uptake and GLUT3 expression (Journal of Neurochemistry, 2018). 2018. ↩︎
GLUT3 deficiency in Alzheimer's disease (Nature Reviews Neurology, 2019). 2019. ↩︎
GLUT3 and dopaminergic neuron vulnerability (Cell Reports, 2021). 2021. ↩︎