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Updated: Aug 17, 2026

Glucose Uptake Measurement and Response to Insulin Stimulation in In Vitro Cultured Human Primary Myotubes
Published on: June 25, 2017
Glucokinase, glucose homeostasis, and diabetes mellitus
1University of Pennsylvania Medical School, Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, 501 Stemmler Hall, 36th & Hamilton Walk, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA. matsch@mail.med.upenn.edu
Abstract:
The enzyme glucokinase (GK) regulates the rate of glucose metabolism in many tissues, including liver, the pancreatic b cells, certain neurons, enteroendocrine cells, and the pituitary, serving as a glucose sensor in many of these. Thus, GK plays a critical role in glucose homeostasis. Spontaneous mutants of GK in humans result in autosomal-dominant hypo- and hyperglycemia syndromes described as "GK disease." GK activator drugs have been discovered that lower blood glucose in normal and diabetic animals and promise to be useful in the treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus. There is no question that the GK molecule and related issues will continue to be a fruitful topic for future research.
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