Glucose transport systems are responsible for transporting glucose across cell membranes. Measuring the uptake of 2 deoxyglucose (2-DG), a glucose analog, is widely accepted as a reliable method to estimate the amount of glucose uptake and to investigate the regulation of glucose metabolism and insulin resistance. The 2-DG uptake is commonly determined using the non-metabolized 2-DG labeled with tritium or C14. However, the use of a radiolabeled probe is costly and requires a tedious special handling procedure.

AAT Bioquest's Screen Quest™ Colorimetric Glucose Uptake Assay Kit provides a sensitive and non-radioactive glucose uptake assay. In this assay 2-DG is taken up by glucose transporters, and metabolized to 2-DG-6-phosphate (2-DG6P). The non-metabolizable 2-DG6P accumulates in cells and is proportional to glucose uptake. The accumulated 2-DG6P is enzymatically coupled to generate NADPH, which is specifically monitored by a chromogenic NADPH sensor. The signal can be read using an absorption microplate reader by reading the OD ratio of 570 nm to 610 nm.

Based on the same principle, AAT Bioquest's Screen Quest™ Fluorimetric Glucose Uptake Assay Kit provides an even more sensitive and non-radioactive glucose uptake assay in tissues or cultured cells. The accumulated 2-DG6P is enzymatically coupled to generate NADPH, which is specifically monitored by a fluorogenic NADPH sensor. The signal can be read using a fluorescence microplate reader at Ex/Em = 540 nm/590 nm.