SLC2A10

SLC2A10, also known as GLUT10, is a protein encoded by the SLC2A10 gene in humans. This gene is located on chromosome 20 and plays a crucial role in glucose transport across cell membranes. GLUT10 belongs to the facilitative glucose transporter family, which comprises a group of integral membrane proteins responsible for facilitating the movement of glucose into cells down its concentration gradient.

The SLC2A10 gene is expressed in various tissues, with notable expression in the liver, pancreas, and skeletal muscle. The protein it encodes, GLUT10, is thought to be particularly important in regulating glucose uptake in these tissues, contributing to overall glucose homeostasis. Research suggests that GLUT10 may also be involved in the transport of other small molecules, although its primary function is widely accepted to be glucose transport.

Mutations in the SLC2A10 gene have been linked to certain metabolic disorders. Specifically, pathogenic variants in SLC2A10 are associated with arterial tortuosity syndrome (ATS). ATS is a rare genetic disorder characterized by widespread elongation and widening of arteries, as well as other connective tissue abnormalities. The mechanism by which GLUT10 dysfunction leads to the vascular features of ATS is an area of ongoing research, but it is believed to involve impaired glucose metabolism in vascular cells. Further studies are investigating the precise role of GLUT10 in cellular energy production and its implications for vascular health.