Glucose deprivation and hypoxia increase the expression of the GLUT1 glucose transporter via a specific mRNA cis-acting regulatory element

The expression of the glucose transporter type-1 (GLUT1) gene is up-regulated in hypoxia and glucose deprivation. A 10 nucleotide (nt) cis-acting regulatory element (CAE), which is located within nt 2181-2190 of the GLUT1 3'-untranslated region (CAE(2181-2190)), increases the expression of a GLUT1-luciferase reporter gene and decreases its mRNA decay. The present study investigated the role of the GLUT1 CAE(2181-2190) in glucose deprivation and hypoxia using stable transfectants. Glucose and O-2 deprivation produced a marked increase in the expression of the GLUT1 reporter gene carrying the CAE(2181-2190), and this effect was additive. Glucose deprivation and/or hypoxia induced no significant changes in the expression of the reporter gene wherein the GLUT1 CAE(2181-2190) was site-directed deleted. Data presented here suggest that the GLUT1 CAE(2181-2190) participates in the increase of GLUT1 gene expression in glucose deprivation and hypoxia.