Glucose Transporter in Plasma Membranes of Cultured Neural Cells, as Characterized by Cytochalasin B Binding

Identification of hexose transporter sites by cytochalasin B binding was conducted with a centrifugation assay. The determination of KD and Bmax values by LIGAND computer analysis provided binding data that are similar in primary astrocytes (238 nM and 14 pmol/mg protein) and neuroblastoma cells (179 nM and 13.6 pmol/mg protein). In contrast, only an insignificant number of transporter sites was detectable in C6 glioma cells, irrespective of whether membrane fractions were obtained by a two-phase polymer system or by a latex phagocytosis technique yielding inside-out plasma membranes. The latter membrane preparation was utilized to identify and quantitate the transporter molecules at the inner membrane surface of primary astrocytes, i.e., 160 nM (KD) and 5.8 pmol/mg protein (Bmax), respectively.