GFAT2

GFAT2 is a protein found in the Golgi apparatus of cells, actively involved in the regulation of insulin signaling. It is a member of the Glucose/Thio sugar Transporter superfamily, primarily expressed in the testes and adipose tissue. As such, GFAT2 is a crucial enzyme for glycolysis, catalyzing two equally important reactions: glycolysis and gluconeogenesis. It exists in two forms - nuclear and cytoplasmic - with varying enzymatic functions, indicative of a role in both nucleoside diphosphate kinase activity and regulatory insulin-stimulated glucose uptake.

GFAT2 is reported to regulate an expansive variety of cellular processes, mediating N-glycosylation processes. Mutations in GFAT2 have highlighted its function within the aerobic glycolysis framework. In various human cancer lines, GFAT2 expression has been shown to influence insulin, glucose tolerance, and protein synthesis. It plays a significant role in cellular signaling pathways. Cancer studies suggest that GFAT2 functions in downstream signaling processes, exhibiting cascade reactions in response to certain growth factors and excitatory neurotransmitters. MFN1, a protein otherwise known for mitochondrial interactions, is a substrate of GFAT2 in glycosylation and acts jointly with this activity. Biochemical studies have assessed the downstream interaction dynamics between GFAT2 and chemokines, exhibiting a series of cross-talk effects within biological systems.