Tag: Hexokinase

Unlike simple monosaccharides that are readily absorbed, complex disaccharides like lactose and sucrose must first be broken down by specific enzymes. Understanding the fundamental differences in lactose, sucrose, and glucose enzyme systems reveals how the body uses specialized machinery to handle each carbohydrate, impacting digestion and cellular energy production.

Glycolysis, a universal metabolic pathway found in nearly all organisms, provides a foundational means of energy production and operates even in the absence of oxygen. This essential process begins with a single molecule of glucose, but understanding why glucose is the starting molecule for glycolysis reveals a sophisticated story of biochemical efficiency and evolutionary history.