Mechanism of substrate recognition and release of human SGLT2

Abstract Glucose is a vital energy source essential for life and human health. Sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT2) is a sodium-glucose symporter that utilizes the electrochemical gradient of sodium to reabsorb glucose from kidney filtrate back into circulation. SGLT2 plays a crucial role in maint...

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Main Authors: Wenhao Cui, Zejian Sun, Jiaxuan Xu, Xiaoyu Liu, Yunlu Kang, Lei Chen
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2025-08-01
Series:Nature Communications
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-62421-6
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author Wenhao Cui
Zejian Sun
Jiaxuan Xu
Xiaoyu Liu
Yunlu Kang
Lei Chen
author_facet Wenhao Cui
Zejian Sun
Jiaxuan Xu
Xiaoyu Liu
Yunlu Kang
Lei Chen
author_sort Wenhao Cui
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Glucose is a vital energy source essential for life and human health. Sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT2) is a sodium-glucose symporter that utilizes the electrochemical gradient of sodium to reabsorb glucose from kidney filtrate back into circulation. SGLT2 plays a crucial role in maintaining blood glucose homeostasis and is an important drug target for type 2 diabetes. Despite its significance, the mechanisms by which SGLT2 recognizes and releases substrates during its transport cycle remain largely unknown. Here, we present structures of human SGLT2 in complex with a glucose analogue in the occluded conformation at 2.6 Å resolution, revealing a detailed hydrogen bonding network at the substrate binding site that governs substrate recognition. Additionally, structures of SGLT2 in both the substrate-bound inward-facing conformation and the substrate-free inward-facing conformations illustrate the structural changes that occur during substrate release into cytosol. Our structural analysis, combined with mutagenesis results, identifies specific polar interactions that are essential for maintaining the outer and inner gates in their closed conformations.
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issn 2041-1723
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spelling doaj-art-cfb32341a6c747acb5a83d796e5840302025-08-20T03:46:17ZengNature PortfolioNature Communications2041-17232025-08-0116111210.1038/s41467-025-62421-6Mechanism of substrate recognition and release of human SGLT2Wenhao Cui0Zejian Sun1Jiaxuan Xu2Xiaoyu Liu3Yunlu Kang4Lei Chen5State Key Laboratory of Membrane Biology, College of Future Technology, Institute of Molecular Medicine, Peking University, Beijing Key Laboratory of Cardiometabolic Molecular MedicineState Key Laboratory of Membrane Biology, College of Future Technology, Institute of Molecular Medicine, Peking University, Beijing Key Laboratory of Cardiometabolic Molecular MedicineState Key Laboratory of Membrane Biology, College of Future Technology, Institute of Molecular Medicine, Peking University, Beijing Key Laboratory of Cardiometabolic Molecular MedicineState Key Laboratory of Membrane Biology, College of Future Technology, Institute of Molecular Medicine, Peking University, Beijing Key Laboratory of Cardiometabolic Molecular MedicineState Key Laboratory of Membrane Biology, College of Future Technology, Institute of Molecular Medicine, Peking University, Beijing Key Laboratory of Cardiometabolic Molecular MedicineState Key Laboratory of Membrane Biology, College of Future Technology, Institute of Molecular Medicine, Peking University, Beijing Key Laboratory of Cardiometabolic Molecular MedicineAbstract Glucose is a vital energy source essential for life and human health. Sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT2) is a sodium-glucose symporter that utilizes the electrochemical gradient of sodium to reabsorb glucose from kidney filtrate back into circulation. SGLT2 plays a crucial role in maintaining blood glucose homeostasis and is an important drug target for type 2 diabetes. Despite its significance, the mechanisms by which SGLT2 recognizes and releases substrates during its transport cycle remain largely unknown. Here, we present structures of human SGLT2 in complex with a glucose analogue in the occluded conformation at 2.6 Å resolution, revealing a detailed hydrogen bonding network at the substrate binding site that governs substrate recognition. Additionally, structures of SGLT2 in both the substrate-bound inward-facing conformation and the substrate-free inward-facing conformations illustrate the structural changes that occur during substrate release into cytosol. Our structural analysis, combined with mutagenesis results, identifies specific polar interactions that are essential for maintaining the outer and inner gates in their closed conformations.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-62421-6
spellingShingle Wenhao Cui
Zejian Sun
Jiaxuan Xu
Xiaoyu Liu
Yunlu Kang
Lei Chen
Mechanism of substrate recognition and release of human SGLT2
Nature Communications
title Mechanism of substrate recognition and release of human SGLT2
title_full Mechanism of substrate recognition and release of human SGLT2
title_fullStr Mechanism of substrate recognition and release of human SGLT2
title_full_unstemmed Mechanism of substrate recognition and release of human SGLT2
title_short Mechanism of substrate recognition and release of human SGLT2
title_sort mechanism of substrate recognition and release of human sglt2
url https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-62421-6
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