Final answer:
Hexokinase binds glucose and ATP at its active site in a process that initiates glycolysis. The induced-fit model describes how the enzyme changes shape upon substrate binding, enhancing this biochemical interaction.
Step-by-step explanation:
The enzyme hexokinase catalyzes the first step in glycolysis, which involves the phosphorylation of glucose, using ATP as a phosphate donor.
The location where hexokinase binds to glucose and ATP is called the active site of the enzyme. The binding of glucose induces a conformational change in the enzyme, known as the induced-fit model of enzyme action.
This conformational change enhances the interaction between the enzyme and glucose, making it easier for hexokinase to transfer a phosphate group from ATP to glucose, producing glucose-6-phosphate.
This product cannot cross the hydrophobic interior of the plasma membrane, effectively trapping it within the cell. Hexokinase is found in nearly every tissue and functions to maintain a concentration gradient, ensuring the continuous flow of glucose from the blood into the tissues.