1. Plural of glucokinase; enzymes that catalyze the phosphorylation of glucose to glucose-6-phosphate, playing a key role in glucose metabolism and blood sugar regulation.
Usage: technical; biochemistry; plural form

Examples

• Glucokinases are expressed primarily in the liver and pancreatic beta cells.
• The activity of glucokinases increases when blood glucose levels rise after a meal.
• Mutations in glucokinase genes can lead to maturity-onset diabetes of the young.
• Researchers are studying glucokinases as potential targets for diabetes treatment.
• Unlike other hexokinases, glucokinases are not inhibited by their product glucose-6-phosphate.