Glucokinase (hexokinase IV) is the major glucose phosphorylating enzyme in pancreatic β-cells (1), and because of its high flux control coefficient on glucose metabolism, it is regarded as the glucose sensor for insulin secretion (1 – 3).

Glucokinase (GCK) is a gene which plays an important role in recognising how high the blood glucose is in the body. It acts as the “glucose sensor” for the pancreas, so that when the blood glucose rises, the amount of insulin produced also increases.

Glucokinase (GK or hexokinase IV) as the glucose sensor plays a pivotal role in glucose homeostasis [ 1 ]. In pancreatic β cells, it orchestrates insulin secretion in response to circulating blood glucose levels. In the liver, it facilitates glycogen storage and postprandial clearance of glucose from the bloodstream.

Glucokinase (GCK) regulates insulin secretion to maintain appropriate blood glucose levels. Sequence variants can alter GCK activity to cause hyperinsulinemic hypoglycemia or hyperglycemia associated with GCK-maturity-onset diabetes of the young (GCK-MODY), collectively affecting up to 10 million people worldwide.