The gene encoding the human erythrocyte glucose transporter, cloned from HepG2 hepatoma cells, was expressed in Escherichia coli by introducing a prokaryote-type ribosome binding site, subcloning the gene into the T7 promoter/T7 polymerase expression system, and transforming a strain that is defective in glucose transport. Cells bearing plasmids with the transporter gene take up 2-deoxy-D-glucose and D-glucose, unlike cells bearing plasmids without the transporter gene. Moreover, 2-deoxy-D-glucose uptake is inhibited by unlabeled D-glucose, cytochalasin B, or mercuric chloride but not by L-glucose. The glucose transport protein is inserted into the membrane of E. coli, as evidenced by immunoblotting experiments with two site-directed polyclonal antibodies, one directed against the COOH terminus of the glucose transporter and the other directed against a synthetic peptide containing amino acid residues 225-238. As detected with both antibodies, the protein migrates with apparent molecular mass of 34 kDa in sodium dodecyl sulfate/12% polyacrylamide, a size similar to that of the unglycosylated glucose-transport protein synthesized in vitro.