Molecular and cellular regulation of human glucokinase

• Published in: Archives of biochemistry and biophysics 2019-03, Vol.663, p.199-213
• Main Authors: Sternisha, Shawn M., Miller, Brian G.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Animals; Carrier Proteins - physiology; Conformational dynamics; Diabetes; Enzyme Activation; Glucokinase; Glucokinase - antagonists & inhibitors; Glucokinase - chemistry; Glucokinase - metabolism; Glucose - analysis; Humans; Phosphofructokinase-2 - metabolism; Protein Binding; Protein Conformation; Protein Processing, Post-Translational; Protein-protein interaction; Regulation; SUMO-1 Protein - metabolism
• ISSN: 0003-9861; 1096-0384
• DOI: 10.1016/j.abb.2019.01.011

Glucose metabolism in humans is tightly controlled by the activity of glucokinase (GCK). GCK is predominantly produced in the pancreas, where it catalyzes the rate-limiting step of insulin secretion, and in the liver, where it participates in glycogen synthesis. A multitude of disease-causing mutations within the gck gene have been identified. Activating mutations manifest themselves in the clinic as congenital hyperinsulinism, while loss-of-function mutations produce several diabetic conditions. Indeed, pharmaceutical companies have shown great interest in developing GCK-associated treatments for diabetic patients. Due to its essential role in maintaining whole-body glucose homeostasis, GCK activity is extensively regulated at multiple levels. GCK possesses a unique ability to self-regulate its own activity via slow conformational dynamics, which allows for a cooperative response to glucose. GCK is also subject to a number of protein-protein interactions and post-translational modification events that produce a broad range of physiological consequences. While significant advances in our understanding of these individual regulatory mechanisms have been recently achieved, how these strategies are integrated and coordinated within the cell is less clear. This review serves to synthesize the relevant findings and offer insights into the connections between molecular and cellular control of GCK. [Display omitted] •Cooperativity allows glucokinase to serve as the body's glucose sensor.•Intrinsic conformational dynamics regulate glucokinase at the molecular level.•Protein-protein interactions and posttranslational modifications regulate glucokinase in the cell.•Establishing links between regulatory mechanisms is essential for treating disease.•This review integrates results from molecular and cellular regulation studies.