Studies on the Tissue Localization of HKDC1, a Putative Novel Fifth Hexokinase, in Humans

Hexokinase domain component 1 (HKDC1) is a recently discovered novel protein, which is being promoted as a putative fifth hexokinase. Although the exact role HKDC1 plays in physiology is still unclear, it has been shown to be important during pregnancy in the regulation of glucose homeostasis. In this study, we have comprehensively studied the expression pattern of HKDC1 in the human body. Using human tissue sample, immunohistochemistry imaging was performed. Our studies indicate that the tissues with highest HKDC1 expression were the brush border epithelium of the intestines, parts of the pancreas, and lung alveolar macrophages. Future directions will be to understand the role of this fifth hexokinase in these tissues, with a focus on its relative function as compared with other endogenously expressed hexokinases.