SLC2A8 (GLUT8) is a mammalian trehalose transporter required for trehalose-induced autophagy.

ABSTRACT: Trehalose is a disaccharide demonstrated to mitigate disease burden in multiple murine neurodegenerative models. We recently revealed that trehalose rapidly induces hepatic autophagy and abrogates hepatic steatosis by inhibiting hexose transport via the SLC2A family of facilitative transporters. Prior studies, however, postulate that intracellular trehalose is sufficient to induce cellular autophagy. The objective of the current study was to identify the means by which trehalose accesses the hepatocyte cytoplasm, and define the distal signaling mechanisms by which trehalose induces autophagy. We provide gas chromatographic/mass spectrometric, fluorescence microscopic and radiolabeled uptake evidence that trehalose traverses the plasma membrane via SLC2A8 (GLUT8), a homolog of the trehalose

SUBMITTER: Mayer AL 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5138640 | biostudies-literature | 2016 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature