Question

what is the current research being done on the hexokinase enzyme?

Answer 1

Hexokinase is the enzyme that phosphorylates glucose to from glucose-6 phosphate in glycolysis.

Some recent researches in hexokinase are:

1. Role of hexokinase has been studied in cancer. The microRNA miR-885-5pw, which targets the 3’ UTR of hexokinase 2 has been found to be associated with poor outcome in hepatocellular carcinoma patients. Role of hexokinase 2 has been studied in B cell lymphoma. Burkitt lymphoma patients express high levels of HKII, which confers resistance to cisplatin. The increased expression of HKII is seen in hypoxic condition which is predominant in tumors. Role of HKII is also studied in cervical cancer via the miR-9-5p/hexokinase 2/AKT pathway. Role of microRNAs generated to hexokinase II also regulate growth of osteosarcoma cells. HK2 is involved in ovarian cancer metastasis via FAK/ERK1/2 signaling pathway. This pathway is involved in expression of MMP9/NANOG/SOX9.

Thus, a large body of current research is on the role of hexokinase in cancer and also microRNA regulation of hexokinase 2. There are studies on role of hypoxia on hexokinase expression in cancer cells. Further, treatment options from killing cancer cells using microRNAs to hexokinase 2 have been studied.

2. The role of Hexokinase has been studied in the green alga Chromochloris zofingiensis. This alga switches photosynthesis in presence of glucose in light to production of biofuels precursors as well as anti-oxidants. Hexokinase is involved in this switch.

3. Hepatic stellate cell activation is required for hepatic fibrosis and hexokinase is involved in this process. It has been observed that inhibition of hexokinase 2 by costunolide can inhibit HSC activation.

4. Studies are ongoing on role of hexokinase in retinal pathogenesis in Inherited retinal dystrophies. Autosomal dominant retinitis pigmentosa (RP) has been associated with variants in hexokinase 1. An anti-HK1 antibody is being developed as a serum biomarker to detect diabetic retinopathy.

5. Inhibition studies have been carried out to study anti-inflammatory roles of compounds that target hexokinase 2. Inhibition of HK2 was found to induce anti-inflammation in cells.

6. Role of hexokinase has also been assessed in the virulence of pathogenic Candida albicans. Inhibition of this specific hexokinase in C.albicans was found to decrease killing of the host cells and can be thought of as a treatment option for these infections.