Sodium-glucose transport proteins

Sodium-glucose transport proteins (also known as SGLTs) are a family of proteins that facilitate the transport of glucose across the cell membrane in conjunction with sodium ions.

Pronunciation

The pronunciation of Sodium-glucose transport proteins is /ˈsoʊdiəm ˈgluːkoʊz ˈtrænspɔːrt ˈproʊtiːnz/.

Etymology

The term "Sodium-glucose transport proteins" is derived from the function of these proteins. "Sodium" and "glucose" refer to the substances they transport, and "transport proteins" refers to their role in moving these substances across the cell membrane.

Function

Sodium-glucose transport proteins are integral membrane proteins that transport glucose against its concentration gradient into cells by using the energy from the downhill sodium ion gradient. This process is known as secondary active transport.

Types

There are two main types of sodium-glucose transport proteins: SGLT1 and SGLT2. SGLT1 is primarily found in the small intestine, where it aids in the absorption of glucose from the diet. SGLT2, on the other hand, is primarily found in the kidneys, where it reabsorbs glucose from the urine back into the bloodstream.

Related Terms

• Glucose Transporter
• Active Transport
• Passive Transport
• Facilitated Diffusion

See Also

• Protein
• Cell membrane
• Glucose
• Sodium
• Secondary active transport
• SGLT1
• SGLT2
• Small intestine
• Kidney

This WikiMD.org article is a stub. You can help make it a full article.