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The findings suggests a possible new way to manage diabetes—by targeting the proteins that control nutrient flow rather than focusing only on insulin.
By Shula Rosen
Researchers at Ben-Gurion University of the Negev have identified a rapid-response system inside human cells that could transform the way doctors treat diabetes and cancer.
The study, published in Nature Communications, shows that cells actively manage nutrient intake through a synchronized process, overturning the long-held belief that nutrient absorption happens slowly and passively.
At the center of this system are two proteins that act like traffic controllers: one moves citrate and the other carries glucose.
Scientists found that these proteins do more than transport nutrients. They continuously communicate with each other, allowing cells to sense changes in their environment and adjust energy intake within minutes.
When glucose levels drop, the system increases the uptake of both glucose and citrate to keep energy production stable. Once glucose becomes available again, the extra absorption stops just as quickly.
Researchers said this coordination helps cells avoid energy shortfalls that can lead to disease.
The team also discovered that disrupting one of these proteins in mice caused their cells to pull more glucose from the bloodstream, lowering overall blood sugar.
This suggests a possible new way to manage diabetes—by targeting the proteins that control nutrient flow rather than focusing only on insulin.
The implications extend to cancer as well. Tumor cells often manipulate glucose transport to fuel rapid growth while shutting down citrate transport. By reprogramming this system, Ben-Gurion researchers and their clinical partners designed new compounds that killed tumors in mice without harming healthy tissue.
According to the scientists, this breakthrough changes experts’ views on how cells use nutrients. Rather than passively responding to what is available, cells appear to actively coordinate intake through a sophisticated communication system.
Ben-Gurion’s technology transfer company, BGN Technologies, is now working with international partners to turn these findings into treatments. If successful, the discovery could lead to new drugs for diabetes, cancer, and other diseases linked to metabolic imbalance.
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