Diversity in the glucose transporter-4 gene (SLC2A4) in humans reflects the action of natural selection along the old-world primates evolution.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Glucose is an important source of energy for living organisms. In vertebrates it is ingested with the diet and transported into the cells by conserved mechanisms and molecules, such as the trans-membrane Glucose Transporters (GLUTs). Members of this family have tissue specific expression, biochemical properties and physiologic functions that together regulate glucose levels and distribution. GLUT4 -coded by SLC2A4 (17p13) is an insulin-sensitive transporter with a critical role in glucose homeostasis and diabetes pathogenesis, preferentially expressed in the adipose tissue, heart muscle and skeletal muscle. We tested the hypothesis that natural selection acted on SLC2A4.

Methodology/principal findings

We re-sequenced SLC2A4 and genotyped 104 SNPs along a approxima

SUBMITTER: Tarazona-Santos E 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2843742 | biostudies-literature | 2010 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature