Catalyzes the phosphorylation of hexose to hexose 6-phosphate, although at very low level compared to other hexokinases . Has low glucose phosphorylating activity compared to other hexokinases . Involved in glucose homeostasis and hepatic lipid accumulation. Required to maintain whole-body glucose homeostasis during pregnancy; however additional evidences are required to confirm this role (By similarity).
Subcellular locations: Cytoplasm, Mitochondrion membrane, Photoreceptor inner segment
The mitochondrial-binding peptide (MBP) region promotes association with the mitochondrion.
Widely expressed (, ). Highly expressed in the brush border, surface epithelium and the myenteric plexus of the small and large intestines; the acinar centrocytes and interlobular ducts of the pancreas; and the alveolar macrophages in the lungs (at protein level) . Present at moderate level in the thyroid follicular epithelium (at protein level) .