JERUSALEM, Sept. 2 (Xinhua) -- Israeli scientists have discovered that human cells operate a sophisticated traffic control system that monitors nutrients and precisely regulates energy and blood sugar, Ben-Gurion University said in a statement on Tuesday.

The finding, published in Nature Communications, challenges long-held assumptions about how cells sense and respond to changing nutrient levels and offers promising new targets for diabetes and cancer treatments.

It has been believed that cells rely on slow internal mechanisms that could take hours to adjust metabolism. The new study reveals that cells have a rapid-response system at their surface.

Two key transporter proteins, the liver citrate transporter NaCT and glucose transporters Glut, work together in perfect coordination. They constantly sense nutrient levels and communicate with other cells to maintain energy balance and control blood sugar within minutes.

In further studies, the researchers developed molecules that target the system. Animal studies showed that the molecules can lower blood sugar levels and eradicate certain types of tumors in mice.

According to the researchers, the system works like two traffic controllers in constant communication with each other. When glucose is scarce, liver cells increase uptake of both glucose and citrate. When glucose returns, uptake quickly returns to normal.

When NaCT was genetically disrupted in mice, cells absorbed more glucose, and blood sugar dropped significantly.

The researchers said that their discovery may mark a shift in medical research. Instead of targeting individual proteins, scientists can now aim at the coordinated function of transporter interactions, which may lead to new treatments or even a cure for metabolic diseases. ■