### PFKM Gene Overview

- **Gene Symbol**: PFKM
- **Description**: The PFKM gene encodes the muscle-type isozyme of phosphofructokinase (PFK), an important enzyme in the glycolytic pathway. It catalyzes the conversion of D-fructose 6-phosphate to fructose 1,6-bisphosphate, which is a key regulatory step in glycolysis. There are three isozymes of phosphofructokinase in mammals: muscle (PFKM), liver (PFKL), and platelet (PFKP), each with distinct tissue-specific expression.

### 1. Associated Genes
PFKM is known to interact with various genes, primarily those involved in glycolytic and metabolic pathways:

- **PFKL**: The liver isozyme that serves a similar function but is expressed in liver tissue.
- **PFKP**: The platelet isozyme with a function closely related to muscle-type PFKM.
- **TPI1**: Triosephosphate isomerase, an enzyme in the glycolytic pathway that can interact with PFKM functionally.
- **GPI**: Glucose-6-phosphate isomerase, also part of the glycolysis and gluconeogenesis pathways.
- **PGK1**: Phosphoglycerate kinase, an enzyme further down the glycolytic pathway.

### 2. Aging and Age-Related Diseases
While specific aging associations for PFKM have not been deeply studied, metabolic dysregulation and energy metabolism are critical factors in aging processes and age-related diseases such as:

- **Type 2 Diabetes**: Altered glycolytic flux due to enzyme deficiencies can contribute to insulin resistance.
- **Cardiovascular diseases**: Muscle-specific metabolic pathways involving PFKM are vital for maintaining energy homeostasis, which could connect to cardiovascular health as we age.
- **Sarcopenia**: Loss of muscle mass and function during aging may be linked to changes in the glycolytic metabolism that involve PFKM.

### 3. Drug Interactions
Currently, specific information about drugs interacting with PFKM is limited, as PFKM is not commonly a direct drug target. However, drugs affecting glycolysis or metabolic pathways could have indirect interactions, which may include:

- **Metformin**: Primarily used for type 2 diabetes, affecting liver metabolism but may indirectly influence muscle glycolysis.
- **Statins**: Used for lowering cholesterol; they may affect metabolic pathways that involve glycolysis.

### 4. Pathways and Biological Processes
PFKM is involved in several important biochemical pathways and processes:

- **Glycolysis**: It plays a critical role in the glycolytic pathway, being one of its key regulatory enzymes.
- **Glycogen Storage Disease pathway**: Aberrations in PFKM function may contribute to glycogen storage diseases, particularly Type VII (Tarui disease), where there is impaired glycogen utilization due to PFKM deficiencies.
- **Lactic Acid Metabolism**: It helps regulate lactic acid levels during anaerobic conditions.
- **Regulation of insulin secretion**: PFKM indirectly influences the energy state of pancreatic beta cells, affecting insulin production.

### Summary
The PFKM gene is central to muscle energy metabolism, and its variant expressions contribute to various metabolic diseases. While implicated in specific conditions and potentially related to aging processes, further research is needed to fully elucidate its functions and interactions in a broader biological context.