Question

Explain how reducing gastric mobility would affect the number of glucose transporters in the membranes of these cells.

Answer 1

• Gastric mobility refers to the emptying and filling of the stomach.
• Reducing gastric mobility of gastric emptying (such as effects of incretin hormone) induces factors such as Glucose-dependent insulinotropic peptide (GIP).
• GIP slows glucagon activity and induces insulin production.
• GLUT are Glucose transporters, which act as facilitated glucose transporter.
• GLUT transport glucose into the cell down its concentration gradient.
• GLUT transports glucose by alternative conformation.
• Glucose binding sites are present both inside and outside the transporter.
• The higher concentration of glucose activates the affinity for binding of glucose to the transporter. Membrane spanning motifs prevents intra-cellular binding of glucose. Also, glucose is chemically fixed to prevent back transport.
• In presence of insulin, there in rapid increase of GLUT on plasma membrane, which facilitates glucose uptake by muscle and fat cells.
• Thus, reducing gastric mobility in turn increases glucose transporters.