HK2, Official Symbol HK2provided by HGNC Official Full Name hexokinase 2provided by HGNC Primary source HGNC:HGNC:4923 See related Ensembl:ENSG00000159399 MIM:601125; AllianceGenome:HGNC:4923 Gene type protein coding RefSeq status REVIEWED Organism Homo sapiens Lineage Eukaryota; Metazoa; Chordata; Craniata; Vertebrata; Euteleostomi; Mammalia; Eutheria; Euarchontoglires; Primates; Haplorrhini; Catarrhini; Hominidae; Homo Also known as HKII; HXK2 Summary Hexokinases phosphorylate glucose to produce glucose-6-phosphate, the first step in most glucose metabolism pathways. This gene encodes hexokinase 2, the predominant form found in skeletal muscle. It localizes to the outer membrane of mitochondria. Expression of this gene is insulin-responsive, and studies in rat suggest that it is involved in the increased rate of glycolysis seen in rapidly growing cancer cells. [provided by RefSeq, Apr 2009] Expression Broad expression in fat (RPKM 34.4), colon (RPKM 24.2) and 19 other tissues See more Orthologs mouse all