Jørgen Jensen, Professor - Norway

The aim of the collaborative project is to study the physiological role of hexokinase for metabolic regulation in skeletal muscles. Hexokinase activity is inhibited by glucose 6-phosphate, but it has recently been shown that hexokinase is phosphorylated. The physiological role of hexokinase phosphorylation for regulating glucose metabolism in skeletal muscles is unknown.

A major hindrance has been the lack of methods to study hexokinase affinity for inhibition by glucose 6-phosphate efficiently. However, several lines of evidences have indicated that hexokinase activity is regulated and determine glucose metabolism, at least in some physiological conditions.

The aim of this project is to develop methodologies to study hexokinase activity, and thereby better understand the physiological role of hexokinase activity for determination of insulin sensitivity. This may be particular important in insulin resistant musculature where hexokinase activity is down-regulated.