Page 76 - BIOCHEMISTRY II
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Glucokinase vs. Hexokinase
•Hexokinase has low Km and therefore can efficiently use low levels of
glucose. But is quickly saturated.
• Glucokinase is found in liver and b-cells of pancreas.
• Glucokinase allows liver to respond to blood glucose levels.
• It has a high Km, so it does not become saturated till very high levels
of glucose are reached.
•At low glucose levels, very little taken up by liver, so is spared for
other tissues.
• Not inhibited by glucose 6-phosphate, allowing accumulation in liver
for storage as glycogen.
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