Work

Autophagy and GLUT1 trafficking: an overview of molecular mechanisms

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: Autophagy is a catabolic process that enables cellular metabolic adaptation in response to nutrient deprivation. It facilitates the degradation of proteins and cellular components within lysosomes to generate essential metabolites. The glucose transporter 1 (GLUT1) is among the proteins that can undergo autophagy-mediated degradation in response to metabolic stimuli. GLUT1 is essential for cellular glucose supply in several tissues. Notably, GLUT1 facilitates glucose transport across the blood-brain barrier, creating a concentration gradient from the bloodstream into the brain's interstitial fluid. The presence of GLUT1, at the plasma membrane, is the first step in initiating glucose uptake and driving glycolysis inside the cell. Glycolysis can be initiated in response to several stimuli, including glucose availability, autophagy inhibition, and growth factor accessibility. In this review, we highlight recently described mechanisms that govern the subcellular distribution of GLUT1 with a focus on autophagy-mediated trafficking. Understanding how autophagy coordinates GLUT1 sorting in response to metabolic demands may uncover novel therapeutic targets for metabolic disorders characterized by dysregulated GLUT1 trafficking.

Source: American Journal of Physiology-Cell Physiology

DOI: 10.1152/ajpcell.00551.2025

Authors: Sara Petrosino, Paolo Grumati

Institutions: Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Federico II University Hospital, Telethon Institute Of Genetics And Medicine, University of Naples Federico II

Language: English

Topic: Autophagy in Disease and Therapy

Subfield: Epidemiology

Field: Medicine

Domain: Health Sciences

Open Access status: hybrid

Funder: Fondazione Telethon

Award: G5676638294