Glycerol kinase is a phosphotransferase enzyme involved in triglycerides and glycerophospholipids synthesis.
Glycerol kinase catalyzes the transfer of a phosphate from ATP to glycerol thus forming glycerol phosphate (ATP + glycerol <=> ADP + sn-glycerol 3-phosphate ). Adipocytes lack glycerol kinase so they cannot metabolize the glycerol produced during triacyl glycerol degradation. This glycerol is instead shuttled to the liver via the blood where it is: |