title: A fresh view of glycolysis and glucokinase regulation: history and current status.
abstract: This minireview looks back at a century of glycolysis research with a focus on the mechanisms of flux regulation. Traditionally, glycolysis is regarded as a feeder pathway that prepares glucose for further catabolism and energy production. However, glycolysis is much more than that, in particular in those tissues that express the low affinity glucose-phosphorylating enzyme glucokinase. This enzyme equips the glycolytic pathway with a special steering function for the regulation of intermediary metabolism. In beta cells, glycolysis acts as a transducer for triggering and amplifying physiological glucose-induced insulin secretion. On the basis of these considerations, I have defined a glycolytic flux regulatory unit composed of the two fructose ester steps of this pathway with various enzymes and metabolites that regulate glycolysis.
authors.affiliation: From the Institute of Clinical Biochemistry, Hannover Medical School, 30625 Hannover, Germany.
authors.forename: Sigurd
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lenzen
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D005941:Glucokinase / Q000378:metabolism*; D005947:Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D006019:Glycolysis; D006801:Humans; D007328:Insulin / Q000378:metabolism; D000078790:Insulin Secretion; D050417:Insulin-Secreting Cells / Q000201:enzymology / Q000378:metabolism; D008099:Liver / Q000201:enzymology / Q000378:metabolism; D008954:Models, Biological; D010766:Phosphorylation
chemical_list: D007328:Insulin; D005941:Glucokinase; D005947:Glucose
keywords: Beta Cell; Glucokinase; Glycolysis; Liver; Metabolic Regulation; Phosphofructokinase