16K Fractionation of 3T3-L1 Adipocytes to Produce a Crude GLUT4-Containing Vesicle Fraction

The insulin-sensitive pool of glucose transporter isoform 4 (GLUT4) can be isolated from total cell membranes using the 16K fractionation protocol, described here. This method produces a light membrane-containing supernatant that includes the insulin-sensitive pool of GLUT4 in GLUT4 storage vesicles. The 16K pellet fraction contains the heavy membranes (including the plasma membrane, mitochondria, nuclei, Golgi apparatus, and endoplasmic reticulum). The distribution of proteins between the two fractions is determined via immunoblotting. By subjecting insulin-stimulated versus unstimulated cells to this protocol, the mobilization of proteins out of the insulin-sensitive GLUT4 pool can be assessed.