GLUT4 metabolic processes

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Through many studies and experiments it has been found that glucose is an important factor in muscle contraction and the metabolism of glucose is essential for life.(3) For glucose to be taken up by muscle cells it must be transported through the GLUT 4 transporter, a integral membrane protein which translocates from inside the cell to the plasma membrane in response to muscle contraction and high blood glucose levels.(textbook)
When muscle cells are subject to long periods of intense physical activity their need for glucose as a form of energy increases drastically. Using experiments that focus on glucose concentration and blood flow from the blood stream into muscle cells it was found that blood glucose accounted for 40% of oxidative metabolism when the glycogen stored glucose in muscle cells was low. GLUT4 is essential for glucose uptake and can be broken down into three steps; glucose delivery, glucose transport and glucose metabolism.
Glucose is delivered to the cells via the blood stream; an increase in blood flow, from physical activity perhaps, increases the amount ...

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