An overview of solute carrier family (facilitated glucose transporter) genes and their role in bovine mammary gland functioning

Milk yield greatly depends on mammary lactose synthesis due to its osmoregulatory property for mammary uptake of wate. A large amount of glucose is required by lactating dairy cows as the main precursor for lactose synthesis. Solute carriers (glucose transporters) in the bovine mammary gland play a key role in the transport of glucose and therefore milk synthesis. Different sugar transporters have their own specific characteristics which indicates that uptake of glucose into mammary cells is complex. Their specific characteristics further determine their expression levels in individual cells or tissues and thus provide a high degree of specificity in the control of glucose uptake under different physiological conditions. In this review we report the role of major solute carriers in functioning of mammary gland and their expression. These solute carriers are highly regulated with different mechanisms. Studies are further needed to address their physiological functions in mammary gland.. The major focus should be on proper utilization of glucose in the bovine mammary gland which is of major importance for successful lactating period in the dairy cow.