Which enzyme is utilized in both gluconeogenesis and glycogenolysis?

The correct choice is glucose-6-phosphatase, an enzyme that plays a crucial role in both gluconeogenesis and glycogenolysis.

In gluconeogenesis, which is the process of synthesizing glucose from non-carbohydrate precursors, glucose-6-phosphatase catalyzes the conversion of glucose-6-phosphate into free glucose. This reaction is essential because it allows glucose to be released into the bloodstream, thereby maintaining blood glucose levels during fasting or between meals.

Similarly, in glycogenolysis, which is the breakdown of glycogen into glucose, glucose-6-phosphatase functions in the same way. After glycogen is broken down into glucose-6-phosphate, glucose-6-phosphatase converts this compound into free glucose, which can then be utilized by various tissues in the body or released into circulation.

This dual functionality highlights the importance of glucose-6-phosphatase in maintaining glucose homeostasis, making it a key enzyme in energy metabolism.

In contrast, enzymes like hexokinase and phosphofructokinase are specific to the glycolytic pathway or are involved in other metabolic processes, and glycogen phosphorylase is primarily involved only in glycogenolysis, not