Glucosedependent

Glucosedependent is an adjective used in biology to describe processes, cells, or organisms that rely on glucose for energy, metabolism, or function. The term emphasizes dependence on glucose as a primary carbon and energy source, though the degree of dependence can vary among systems.

In mammals, red blood cells depend on glycolysis for ATP because they lack mitochondria. The brain is typically glucose-dependent under normal conditions, although glucose can be partially substituted by ketone bodies during prolonged fasting. Many tumors exhibit glucosedependent metabolism, often with elevated glycolysis even in oxygen-rich conditions (the Warburg effect); such cancers may be sensitive to interventions that inhibit glycolysis. By contrast, healthy tissues display metabolic flexibility, using fats or amino acids when glucose is scarce, so their glucosedependence is context-dependent.

In pharmacology and medicine, glucosedependent describes mechanisms that respond to glucose levels. For example, insulin release triggered by glucose is glucosedependent, as seen with incretin-based therapies such as GLP-1 receptor agonists, which promote insulin secretion primarily when plasma glucose is elevated, reducing hypoglycemia risk.

Etymology: the term derives from glucose and dependent, and is used across biology, physiology, and medicine to characterize reliance on glucose as an energy source or regulatory cue.