Question

Why is it necessary to phosphorylate a glucose molecule, creating glucose-6-phosphate? why is it necessary to phosphorylate a glucose molecule, creating glucose-6-phosphate? to trap the glucose molecule within the cell to allow the glucose molecule to easily pass out of the cell to allow easy passage of the glucose molecule into the mitochondria to create a storage form of glucose that the cell can then hang onto?

Answer 1

It is necessary to phosphorylate a glucose molecule so as to trap glucose inside the cell, to make ATP, and to facilitate enzyme building. When insulin is released from the pancreas after a meal, it signals the tissues to uptake glucose. When glucose enters the cells via glucose transporters, there is a chance for them to leave the cell. If the body is in need of energy, and the breakdown of glucose will provide that energy, the body does not want the glucose to leave the cell and that is why the glucose is phosphorylated by ATP to become glucose-6-phosphate, which now bears a charge.