Malignant cells are known to have accelerated metabolism, high glucose requirements, and increased glucose uptake. Transport of glucose across the plasma membrane of mammalian cells is the first rate-limiting step for glucose metabolism and is mediated by facilitative glucose transporter (GLUT) proteins. Increased glucose transport in malignant cells has been associated with increased and deregulated expression of glucose transporter proteins, with overexpression of GLUT1 and/or GLUT3 a characteristic feature. Oncogenic transformation of cultured mammalian cells causes a rapid increase of glucose transport and GLUT1 expression via interaction with GLUT1 promoter enhancer elements. In human studies, high levels of GLUT1 expression in tumors have been associated with poor survival. Studies indicate that glucose transport in breast cancer is not fully explained by GLUT1 or GLUT3 expression, suggesting involvement of another glucose transporter. Recently, a novel glucose transporter protein, GLUT12, has been found in breast and prostate cancers. In human breast and prostate tumors and cultured cells, GLUT12 is located intracellularly and at the cell surface. Trafficking of GLUT12 to the plasma membrane could therefore contribute to glucose uptake. Several factors have been implicated in the regulation of glucose transporter expression in breast cancer. Hypoxia can increase GLUT1 levels and glucose uptake. Estradiol and epidermal growth factor, both of which can play a role in breast cancer cell growth, increase glucose consumption. Estradiol and epidermal growth factor also increase GLUT12 protein levels in cultured breast cancer cells. Targeting GLUT12 could provide novel methods for detection and treatment of breast and prostate cancer.

An engineered microbe transforms carbon dioxide into a prospective liquid fuel in tandem with electrical power rather than light.

The recent identification of several additional members of the family of sugar transport facilitators (gene symbol SLC2A, protein symbol GLUT) has created a heterogeneous and, in part, confusing nomenclature. Therefore, this letter provides a summary of the family members and suggests a systematic nomenclature for SLC2A and GLUT symbols.

Facilitative glucose transporters exhibit variable hexose affinity and tissue-specific expression. These characteristics contribute to specialized metabolic properties of cells. Here we describe the characterization of a novel glucose transporter-like molecule, GLUT-12. GLUT-12 was identified in MCF-7 breast cancer cells by homology to the insulin-regulatable glucose transporter GLUT-4. The GLUT-12 cDNA encodes 617 amino acids, which possess features essential for sugar transport. Di-leucine motifs are present in NH(2) and COOH termini at positions similar to the GLUT-4 FQQI and LL targeting motifs. GLUT-12 exhibits 29% amino acid identity with GLUT-4 and 40% to the recently described GLUT-10. Like GLUT-10, a large extracellular domain is predicted between transmembrane domains 9 and 10. Genomic organization of GLUT-12 is highly conserved with GLUT-10 but distinct from GLUTs 1-5. Immunofluorescence showed that, in the absence of insulin, GLUT-12 is localized to the perinuclear region in MCF-7 cells. Immunoblotting demonstrated GLUT-12 expression in skeletal muscle, adipose tissue, and small intestine. Thus GLUT-12 is potentially part of a second insulin-responsive glucose transport system.

BACKGROUND Increased glucose consumption is a characteristic of malignant cells and in prostate carcinoma is associated with the proliferation of both androgen‐dependent and independent cells. Transport of polar glucose across the nonpolar membrane relies on glucose transporter proteins, known as GLUTs. Increased expression of GLUT1 is a characteristic of many malignant cells. The authors characterized and cloned the cDNA for a novel glucose transporter, GLUT12, which was identified initially in malignant breast epithelial cells. To the authors' knowledge, there have been no reports on the expression of glucose transporters in the human prostate or human prostate carcinoma cells. The authors evaluated GLUT1 and GLUT12 expression in human prostate carcinoma cells. METHODS Reverse transcription‐polymerase chain reaction was performed on total RNA extracted from cultured prostate carcinoma cells LNCaP, C4, C4‐2, and C4‐2B using primers to amplify GLUT1, GLUT12, or the housekeeping gene, 36B4. Total protein extracted from prostate carcinoma cell lines was assessed for GLUT12 protein by Western blot analysis. Cultured cell monolayers were incubated with antibodies to GLUT1 or GLUT12 and a peripheral Golgi protein, Golgi 58K, for detection by immunofluorescent confocal microscopy. Sections of benign prostatic hyperplasia and human prostate carcinoma were stained for immunohistochemical detection of GLUT1 and GLUT12. RESULTS GLUT1 and GLUT12 mRNA and protein were detected in all cell lines evaluated. Immunofluorescence staining demonstrated both GLUT1 and GLUT12 on the plasma membrane and in the cytoplasm in all cultured prostate carcinoma cell lines, with GLUT1 but not GLUT12 appearing to colocalize with the Golgi. Immunohistochemical staining of benign prostatic hyperplasia indicated expression of GLUT1 but not GLUT12. Malignant tissue stained for GLUT12 but was negative for GLUT1. CONCLUSIONS GLUT1 and GLUT12 are expressed in human prostate carcinoma cells. One possible rationale for the GLUT1 Golgi association is that it may supply glucose to the Golgi for byproduct incorporation into the prostatic secretory fluid. Further work will investigate the importance of glucose transport and GLUT1 and GLUT12 in prostate carcinoma cell growth. Cancer 2003;97:2035–42. © 2003 American Cancer Society. DOI 10.1002/cncr.11293

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