Cholate-solubilized erythrocyte glucose transporters exist as a mixture of homodimers and homotetramers

The data suggest that purified GLUT1 exists as a mixture of homodimers and homotetramers in cholate-lipid micelles and that the presence of reductant during solubilization favors dimer formation.

Abstract

The molecular size of purified, human erythrocyte glucose transport protein (GLUT1) solubilized in cholic acid was determined by size-exclusion chromatography (SEC) and sucrose gradient ultracentrifugation. GLUT1 purified in the presence of dithiothreitol (GLUT1 + DTT) is resolved as a complex of average Stokes' radius 5.74 nm by SEC. This complex displays D-glucose-inhibitable cytochalasin B binding and, upon reconstitution into proteoliposomes, catalyzes cytochalasin B inhibitable D-glucose transport. GLUT1 purified in the absence of dithiothreitol (GLUT1-DTT) is resolved by SEC as at least two particles of average Stokes' radii 5.74 (minor component) and 7.48 nm (major component). Solubilization of GLUT1-DTT in the presence of dithiothreitol reduces the amount of 7.48-nm complex and increases the amount of 5.74-nm complex resolved by SEC. GLUT1-DTT displays D-glucose-inhibitable cytochalasin B binding and, upon reconstitution into proteoliposomes, catalyzes cytochalasin B inhibitable D-glucose transport. Sucrose gradient ultracentrifugation of GLUT1 + DTT in cholate resolves GLUT1 into two components of 4.8 and 7.6 S. The 4.8S complex is the major component of GLUT1 + DTT. The reverse profile is observed upon sucrose gradient ultracentrifugation of GLUT1-DTT. SEC of human erythrocyte membrane proteins resolves GLUT1 as a major broad peak of average Stokes' radius 7.48 nm and a minor component of 5.74 nm. Both components are characterized by D-glucose-inhibitable cytochalasin B binding. Purified GLUT1 is associated with approximately 26 tightly bound lipid molecules per monomer of transport protein. These data suggest that purified GLUT1 exists as a mixture of homodimers and homotetramers in cholate-lipid micelles and that the presence of reductant during solubilization favors dimer formation.