The R11F4.1 gene encodes a putative glycerol kinase and is orthologous to human glycerol kinase (GK); glycerol kinase catalyses the phosphorylation of glycerol to glycerol-3 phosphate; in elegans, glycerol kinase is enriched in the dauer stage and is one of several genes involved in energy metabolism that are upregulated, when worms are grown in a nutrient deficient medium.
Predicted to enable glycerol kinase activity. Predicted to be involved in glycerol metabolic process; phosphate-containing compound metabolic process; and triglyceride metabolic process. Predicted to be located in mitochondrion. Human ortholog(s) of this gene implicated in glycerol kinase deficiency. Is an ortholog of human GK (glycerol kinase); GK2 (glycerol kinase 2); and GK3 (glycerol kinase 3).