Description
The hexokinase catalyzes the phosphorylation of D-glucose at position 6 by ATP to yield D-glucose 6-phosphate as well as the phosphorylation of many other hexoses like D-fructose, D-mannose, D-glucosamine.
Abbreviation: Hk
MitoPedia topics: Enzyme
The phosphorylation of D-glucose by ATP is a priming step in which the neutral D-glucose molecule is mobilized and made ready for the subsequent steps by its phosphorylation to a negatively charged molecule at the expense of ATP.
Hexokinase has a higher affinity for aldohexoses than for ketohexoses.