Glucose transport

Solute Transport

Essential for cellular function, allowing cells to maintain homeostasis and acquire necessary nutrients.

Selective Permeability

A property of the cell membrane that restricts the free passage of solutes due to its lipid bilayer composition.

Passive Transport

Movement of molecules without energy input, including simple diffusion and facilitated diffusion.

Active Transport

Movement of substances against their concentration gradient, requiring energy, such as in the sodium-potassium pump.

Simple Diffusion

Allows small, nonpolar molecules to pass through the cell membrane.

Facilitated Diffusion

Utilizes transmembrane proteins to assist in the movement of solutes down their concentration gradient.

GLUT Proteins

A family of glucose transporters that facilitate glucose entry into cells.

GLUT-1

A glucose transporter found in many tissues, operating via facilitated diffusion to move glucose down its concentration gradient.

GLUT-4

An insulin-responsive glucose transporter that increases glucose uptake in response to insulin signaling.

SGLT (Sodium-Glucose Transporter)

Cotransporter that moves glucose into cells against its concentration gradient, linked with sodium ion transport.

Cotransport

Mechanism that couples the transport of one solute with another, often using the gradient of one to drive the transport of the other.

Endocytosis

Process for bulk transport of materials into the cell.

Exocytosis

Process for bulk transport of materials out of the cell.

Insulin

A hormone that regulates glucose levels in the blood and promotes GLUT-4 translocation to the cell membrane.

Insulin Signaling Pathway

A cascade initiated by insulin binding to receptors that enhances glucose uptake by translocating GLUT-4.

Glucose-6-Phosphate (G6P)

A phosphorylated form of glucose that plays a key role in glucose metabolism and prevents back diffusion of glucose.

Diabetes

A condition where insulin production is impaired or cells become resistant to insulin, affecting glucose metabolism.

Feedback Regulation

A mechanism where high levels of G6P signal the cell to reduce glucose uptake, affecting transport dynamics.

Sodium-Potassium Pump

An active transport mechanism that maintains low intracellular sodium concentration, creating gradients for other transporters.