Functionality of the white shrimp glucose transporter 1: Expression in Xenopus oocytes and gene silencing during hypoxia

•LvGLUT1 was expressed in the membrane of Xenopus oocytes and is functional.•Injection of dsRNA of Lvglut1 for silencing, changed the response to hypoxia in the shrimp.•LvGLUT1 introduces glucose during hypoxia in a tissue-specific manner in the shrimp.•LvGLUT1 plays a major role in the response to hypoxia in the gills.

The functionality of the Glucose Transporter 1 (LvGLUT1) from the white shrimp Litopenaeus vannamei was evaluated by heterologous expression in Xenopus laevis oocytes and by gene silencing during hypoxia in the gills and hepatopancreas of the shrimp. The LvGLUT1 mRNA was expressed and translated in Xenopus oocytes. The GLUT-1 protein localized in the plasma membrane and transported glucose into the oocytes at a rate of 2.25 ± 0.5 nmol/oocyte/2 h. The effects of hypoxia and glut1 silencing on glucose and lactate concentrations were measured after injection of Lvglut1 dsRNA followed by 3, 24 and 48 h of hypoxia. Gene silencing with Lvglut1 dsRNA was effectively triggered in both tissues. Glucose and lactate concentrations increased (p < 0.05) during hypoxia in the gills and hepatopancreas. In the gills the effect of the interaction between hypoxia and silencing is evident, with a reduction in lactate concentration after 3 and 24 h of hypoxia (fold change =  − 5.1 and − 4.9, respectively) in the dsRNA-injected group compared to the control. Glucose concentration was also lower in the gills after 24 and 48 h (− 1.6 and − 2-fold, respectively) in the same group. Lactate concentration in plasma decreased at least 2-fold in all dsRNA-injected hypoxia treatments whereas glucose concentration remained constant. Altogether these results indicate that the protein product of the Lvglut1 gene is a functional glucose transporter and plays a major role importing glucose during hypoxia in the gills.