dGlc6P

dGlc6P, also known as glucose-6-phosphate, is a molecule that plays a critical role in cellular metabolism. It is the first step in both the glycolytic pathway and the pentose phosphate pathway. This molecule is formed when glucose is phosphorylated by the enzyme hexokinase or glucokinase. This phosphorylation traps glucose inside the cell, as charged molecules cannot easily cross the cell membrane.

In glycolysis, dGlc6P is isomerized to fructose-6-phosphate, continuing the breakdown of glucose to generate ATP. In the pentose phosphate pathway, dGlc6P is oxidized to produce NADPH, a reducing agent vital for biosynthesis and antioxidant defense, and also generates precursors for nucleotide synthesis.

The regulation of dGlc6P levels is tightly controlled by the activity of hexokinase and glucokinase, which are influenced by glucose availability and hormonal signals. Genetic deficiencies in enzymes that metabolize dGlc6P can lead to various inherited metabolic disorders. For instance, a deficiency in glucose-6-phosphatase, the enzyme that removes the phosphate group from dGlc6P, results in glycogen storage disease type I (von Gierke disease), characterized by hypoglycemia and liver enlargement due to the inability to release glucose into the bloodstream. The presence and metabolic fate of dGlc6P are therefore central to cellular energy production and the maintenance of glucose homeostasis.