Mammalian glucose permease GLUT1 facilitates transport of arsenic trioxide and methylarsonous acid

Arsenic exposure is associated with hypertension, diabetes, and cancer. Some mammals methylate arsenic. Saccharomyces cerevisiae hexose permeases catalyze As(OH)3 uptake. Here, we report that mammalian glucose transporter GLUT1 catalyzes As(OH)3 and CH3As(OH)2 uptake in yeast or in Xenopus laevis oocytes. Expression of GLUT1 in a yeast lacking other glucose transporters allows for growth on glucose. Yeast expressing yeast HXT1 or rat GLUT1 transport As(OH)3 and CH3As(OH)2. The Km of GLUT1 is to 1.2 mM for CH3As(OH)2, compared to a Km of 3 mM for glucose. Inhibition between glucose and CH3As(OH)2 is noncompetitive, suggesting differences between the translocation pathways of hexoses and arsenicals. Both human and rat GLUT1 catalyze uptake of both As(OH)3 and CH3As(OH)2 in oocytes. Thus GLUT1 may be a major pathway uptake of both inorganic and methylated arsenicals in erythrocytes or the epithelial cells of the blood–brain barrier, contributing to arsenic-related cardiovascular problems and neurotoxicity.