Accelerated glucose metabolism is a common feature of cancer cells. Hexokinases catalyze the first committed step of glucose metabolism. HK1 (Hexokinase 1) is a key enzyme in glycolysis, catalyzing the phosphorylation of glucose to glucose-6-phosphate. It is critical for maintaining cellular energy homeostasis and is part of the metabolic reprogramming often observed in cancer cells.
• In some tumors, HK1 is upregulated to meet the high glycolytic demands of rapidly proliferating cancer cells. However, the expression pattern can be context-dependent, with some cancers potentially showing moderate or variable HK1 levels compared to the normal tissue counterpart.
• Enhanced HK1 expression supports the high glycolytic flux commonly seen in cancers (the Warburg effect), facilitating anabolic processes and thereby aiding in rapid cell proliferation and biomass accumulation.
• Changes in HK1 expression can also alter the balance between glycolysis and oxidative phosphorylation, potentially impacting reactive oxygen species (ROS) production and cellular redox status in tumors.
(Will delete Record if Target field = "Delete") Home