Inhibition of brain hexokinase by a multisubstrate analog results from binding to a discrete regulatory site.

P1-(adenosine-5')-P3-(glucose-6)-triphosphate (Ap3glucose) is a linear uncompetitive inhibitor vs glucose and a linear mixed inhibitor vs ATP of brain hexokinase, an inhibition pattern inconsistent with binding of Ap3glucose to the catalytic site when either the rapid equilibrium random or ordered sequential mechanism, which have been proposed for this enzyme, is considered. It is concluded that inhibition results from binding to a discrete regulatory site. The apparent ability of the regulatory site to accommodate both hexose and nucleotide moieties is consistent with suggestions by previous investigators that the regulatory site on mammalian hexokinases may have evolved from what was originally a catalytic site.