Biology

How is Glucose Transported into the Blood? Red Blood Cell Glucose Transporter Glut1

Why is Glucose Important for Red Blood Cells? How is glucose transported in the blood?

Red blood cells do not have mitochondria, so they rely exclusively on glycolysis and glucose for energy. Therefore, glucose is very important for the energetic metabolism of red blood cells, and glucose transporters are vital protein structures for red blood cells to receive extracellular glucose. Glut-1 is the specific glucose transporter that carries glucose into the blood.

Which specific transporter helps to transport glucose for red blood cells? (Easy)
Glut-1
Glut-2
Glut-3
Glut-4

How is glucose taken up by red blood cells?

Glucose travels from the intestinal lumen into the intestinal epithelial cells through active transport, and then glucose enters red blood cells through facilitated diffusion. GLUT-1 is one of the major glucose transporters for red blood cells. Red blood cell glucose transporters GLUT-1 are regulated by intracellular ATP and AMP levels. That means red blood cells will take up glucose only depending on how much ATP or AMP they have inside their cells. When the ratio of AMP:ATP is high, that means our blood glucose levels are low. We need more glucose, so GLUT 1 glucose transporter opens and takes up more glucose into the red blood cells.

What would the ratio of ATP:AMP be when the body is low on glucose?
Low
High

When the AMP:ATP ratio is high, that means the red blood cells need more glucose to generate more energy and ATP.

  • High AMP: ATP
  • Intracellular glucose is LOW (we need more glucose inside, ASAP!) = LOW Glycolysis rate
  • Glucose Transporter GLUT1 OPENs

When the ATP:AMP ratio is high, that means the red blood cells has lots of glucose inside and has enough energy generated from glycolysis. 

  • High ATP: AMP
  • Intracellular glucose is HIGH (yo, we have enough glucose, NO MORE!) = HIGH Glycolysis rate
  • Glucose Transporter GLUT1 CLOSEs
Diagram of Glucose transported into red blood cells by GLUT-1 glucose transporter S
Diagram of Glucose transported into red blood cells by GLUT-1 glucose transporter Source: Common Wikimedia

To learn more about other types of glucose transporters such as GLUT and SGLT, their major tissue expressions, and biochemistry, read our lesson here.

Choose the statement below that is all correct when a patient has a high ATP:AMP ratio.
Intracellular glucose is HIGH. GLUT1 is closed.
Intracellular glucose is HIGH. GLUT1 is open.
Extracellular glucose is HIGH. GLUT1 is open.
Extracellular glucose is LOW. GLUT1 is open.
If a patient’s GLUT1 opens, what was the rate of glycolysis and what was the ratio of AMP:ATP?
Low Glycolysis rate; High AMP:ATP
High Glycolysis rate; High AMP:ATP
Low Glycolysis rate; Low AMP:ATP
High Glycolysis rate; Low AMP:ATP

Works Cited:

Brown, G.K. Glucose transporters: Structure, function, and consequences of deficiency. Journal of Inherited Metabolic Disease. May 2000, Volume 23, Issue 3, 237-246.

Thorens, B., & Mueckler, M. Glucose transporters in the 21st Century. American Journal of Physiology. Feburary 2010. https://doi.org/10.1152/ajpendo.00712.2009

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