Fructose-2,6-biphosphatase 3, also known as 6-phosphofructo-2-kinase or PFK2 or PFKFB3, is a potent activator of phosphofructokinase, which is a rate-limiting enzyme of glycolysis. Highly phosphorylated PFKFB3 protein was found in human tumor cells, vascular endothelial cells, and smooth muscle cells. Fructose 2,6-bisphosphate (Fru-2,6-BP) is an allosteric activator of 6-phosphofructo-1-kinase (PFK-1), a rate-limiting enzyme and essential control point in glycolysis. The concentration of PFK2 depends on the activity of the bifunctional enzyme, 6-phosphofructo-2-kinase / fructose-2,6-bisphosphatase (PFK-2 / FBPase). PFK2 controls the glycolytic flux via the allosteric activator fructose 2,6-bisphosphate. Because of its proto-oncogenic character, the PFK-2/FBPase-2 of the PFKFB3 gene is assumed to play a critical role in tumorigenesis. The hypoxia-inducible form of 6-phosphofructo-2-kinase / fructose-2,6-bisphosphatase (PFKFB3) plays a crucial role in the progression of cancerous cells by enabling their glycolytic pathways even under severe hypoxic conditions.
