The hexokinases utilize Mg-ATP as a phosphoryl donor to catalyze the first step of intracellular glucose metabolism, the conversion of glucose to glucose- 6-phosphate. Four hexokinase isoenzymes have been identified, including hexokinase I (HXK I), hexokinase II (HXK II), hexokinase III (HXK III) and hexokinase IV (HXK IV, also designated glucokinase or GCK). Hexokinases I-III each contain an N-terminal cluster of hydrophobic amino acids. Glucokinase lacks the N-terminal hydrophobic cluster. The hydrophobic cluster is thought to be necessary for membrane binding. This is substantiated by the finding that glucokinase has lower affinity for glucose than do the other hexokinases .Hexokinase 2 is the predominant hexokinase isozyme expressed in insulin-responsive tissues such as skeletal muscle. Expression of this gene is insulin-responsive, and studies in rat suggest that it is involved in the increased rate of glycolysis seen in rapidly growing cancer cells.
