Transcriptional regulation of GLUT4 gene expression

The in-vivo expression of the muscle/adipose-specific GLUT4 gene is down regulated under conditions of relative insulin-deficiency such as fasting and streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetes. These alterations in GLUT4 transcription occur in a tissue-specific manner with a significantly greater reduction in cardiac and adipose tissue compared to skeletal muscle. To identify the cis-DNA elements responsible for the complex pattern of tissue-specific and nutritional/metabolic regulation, transgenic mice have successfully been used to examine the expression of the human GLUT4 gene. These data have demonstrated the presence of at least two functional regions required for the appropriate tissue-specific and nutritional/metabolic regulation of GLUT4 gene expression.