In previous studies, we have shown that inhibition of oxidative phosphorylation in Clone 9 cells (a nontransformed rat liver cell line) by 5 mM azide results in a marked biphasic stimulation of glucose transport that is mediated by GLUT1 [M. Shetty, J. N. Loeb, and F. Ismail-Beige. Am.J. Physiol. 262 (Cell Physiol. 31): C527-C532, 1992]. The late phase of the response (at 8-24 h) is associated with a doubling of cell GLUT1 content and an 8- to 10-fold increment in GLUT1 mRNA abundance. To investigate the mechanisms mediating GLUT1 mRNA induction, we have examined the effect of incubation in the presence of azide on GLUT1 gene transcription. In nuclear run-on assays, the rate of GLUT1 gene transcription was increased 2.5 +/- 0.3-fold in nuclei from cells exposed to azide for 4 h. Additionally, GLUT1 mRNA turnover was decreased in cells treated with azide: upon inhibition of RNA synthesis by actinomycin D, GLUT1 mRNA content decreased with half-lives of 2.3 +/- 0.3 and 8.0 +/- 0.5 h in control cells and cells treated with azide for 4 h, respectively. GLUT1 mRNA half-life was most prolonged (> 12 h) when azide was added subsequent to the addition of actinomycin D, and the half-life continued to be prolonged (6.5 +/- 0.5 h) in cells exposed to azide for 16 h.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)