What does glycogenolysis involve?

Glycogenolysis specifically refers to the metabolic process in which glycogen, a stored form of glucose in the liver and muscles, is broken down into glucose molecules. This process occurs primarily when the body requires a quick source of energy, such as during periods of fasting, exercise, or low blood glucose levels. Enzymes are involved in this process to cleave the glycogen into glucose-1-phosphate, which can then be converted to glucose-6-phosphate for energy production or directly released into the bloodstream to raise blood glucose levels.

The other choices highlight different metabolic processes. The catabolism of carbohydrates refers to the overall breakdown of carbohydrates into simpler molecules, while the creation of glucose from glycerol and amino acids describes gluconeogenesis, a different process altogether. The creation of glycogen pertains to glycogenesis, where glucose is stored as glycogen, essentially the reverse of glycogenolysis. Therefore, breaking down glycogen to release glucose is the correct description of glycogenolysis.