Hexokinase

Definition

Hexokinase is an enzyme that catalyzes the first essential step in glucose metabolism, by adding a phosphate group to glucose to form glucose-6-phosphate. This reaction is vital for cells to capture and utilize glucose’s energy.

Related terms

Glucose:

A simple sugar that is an important source of energy in living organisms and is a component of many carbohydrates.

Metabolism:

The set of life-sustaining chemical reactions in organisms that process nutrients into energy and building blocks for growth and repair.

Phosphorylation:

The chemical addition of a phosphate group to an organic molecule, often key in regulating activities and functions of proteins and enzymes within cells