Expression of mRNAs encoding hexokinase isozymes was studied in various cells such as rat brain, liver, skeletal muscle, kidney and heart, and the rat hepatoma cell line AH130 by Northern blotting. High specific expression of type II hexokinase was observed only with AH 130 cells. In contrast, specific expression of type I hexokinase was detected in energy-requiring normal tissue cells such as brain and heart. These results suggest that the expression of hexokinase isozyme in the tumor cells is different from that in normal cells.
