Glucose transporter 4 (GLUT4) moves from perinuclear storage regions to the plasma membrane in response to insulin and facilitates glucose uptake. This MQP examined the roles of three proteins (GAPDH, PGK, and PGAM) in glucose uptake and GLUT4 trafficking in 3T3-L1 adipocytes by performing glucose uptake assays on adipocytes in which these proteins were selectively knocked down using RNAi. GLUT4 trafficking was visualized by transfection with Myc-tagged GLUT4-GFP and immunofluorescence. The data indicate no effect by PGK, while PGAM and GAPDH inhibited both glucose uptake and GLUT4 fusion to the plasma membrane. GAPDH may be required for general cellular secretion pathways.

• This report represents the work of one or more WPI undergraduate students submitted to the faculty as evidence of completion of a degree requirement. WPI routinely publishes these reports on its website without editorial or peer review.

Creator

• Grinstein, Aaron Raphael

Publisher

• Worcester Polytechnic Institute

Identifier

• E-project-042505-122205

Advisor

• Adams, David S.

Year

• 2005

Sponsor

• University of Massachusetts Medical School

Date created

• 2005-04-25

Resource type

• Major Qualifying Project

Major

• Biochemistry

Rights statement

• In Copyright

License

• All rights reserved