An enzyme that catalyzes the first step of glucose metabolism by adding a phosphate group to six-carbon sugars.
From hexo- (six-carbon sugar) + kinase (enzyme that transfers phosphate groups). The term emerged in biochemistry in the early 20th century when scientists discovered the specific enzymes controlling sugar metabolism.
Hexokinase is literally the 'key that unlocks' glucose energy in your cells—it's the first enzyme your body uses to trap glucose so it can't escape, which is why this enzyme is so crucial that your cells make multiple versions of it for different situations.
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