HK3

Description

The HK3 (hexokinase 3) is a protein-coding gene located on chromosome 5.

Hexokinase 3, also known as HK3, is an enzyme encoded by the HK3 gene located on human chromosome 5. It plays a crucial role in glucose metabolism by phosphorylating glucose to produce glucose-6-phosphate (G6P), the initial step in most glucose metabolic pathways. Like hexokinases 1 and 2, HK3 is an allosteric enzyme inhibited by its product, glucose-6-phosphate.

HK3 is one of four highly homologous hexokinase isoforms in mammalian cells. It has a molecular weight of 100 kDa and consists of two highly similar 50-kDa domains at its N- and C-terminals. This structure suggests that the 100-kDa hexokinases originated from a 50-kDa precursor via gene duplication and tandem ligation. The C-terminal domain possesses catalytic ability, while the N-terminal domain is predicted to contain glucose and G6P binding sites and a 32-residue region crucial for proper protein folding. The interaction between the two terminal domains is essential for catalytic activity. Unlike HK1 and HK2, HK3 lacks a mitochondrial binding sequence at its N-terminal.

HK3 is also known as HKIII, HXK3.

Associated Diseases

WES Whole Exome Sequencing