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[Biochemistry](https://durgical.com/en/biochemistry/) · Enzyme

# Glucose-6-phosphatase

Glucose-6-phosphatase releases glucose into the blood from liver and kidney; it is the last step of both gluconeogenesis and glycogenolysis.

Updated 2026-11-01

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## Key facts

- Glucose 6-phosphate + H₂O → glucose + Pi, inside the lumen of the endoplasmic reticulum.
- It is a system: the G6PT transporter (SLC37A4) carries glucose 6-phosphate into the ER and the catalytic subunit (G6PC1) hydrolyses it.
- Present in liver, kidney and intestine; absent from muscle and brain.
- Its absence (G6PC1: GSD Ia; SLC37A4: Ib) is von Gierke disease.

**EC number**
[3.1.3.9](https://www.enzyme-database.org/query.php?ec=3.1.3.9)

**Genes**
G6PC1, SLC37A4

**Structure (PDB)**
[9JTM](https://www.rcsb.org/structure/9JTM)

## Regulation

- Fasting, glucagon and glucocorticoids increase its transcription.
- Insulin represses it.

## Inhibitors and toxins

- Vanadate (experimental)

## Clinical notes

- In GSD I trapped glucose 6-phosphate is diverted to lactate, triglycerides and uric acid: hypoglycaemia, lactic acidosis, hyperlipidaemia and hyperuricaemia.
- In type Ib there is also neutropenia and infection, because neutrophils need the transporter.
- A ubiquitous form (G6PC3) is expressed in neutrophils; its deficiency causes congenital neutropenia.

## Pathways

- [Gluconeogenesis](https://durgical.com/en/biochemistry/pathways/gluconeogenesis/)
- [Glycogen metabolism](https://durgical.com/en/biochemistry/pathways/glycogen-metabolism/)

## Related conditions

- [Von Gierke disease (glycogen storage disease type I)](https://durgical.com/en/conditions/von-gierke-disease/)
- [Gout](https://durgical.com/en/conditions/gout/)
- [Lactic acidosis](https://durgical.com/en/conditions/lactic-acidosis/)

## Related

- [Glucose 6-phosphate](https://durgical.com/en/biochemistry/molecules/glucose-6-phosphate/)
- [Glucose](https://durgical.com/en/biochemistry/molecules/glucose/)
- [Fructose-1,6-bisphosphatase (FBPase-1)](https://durgical.com/en/biochemistry/enzymes/fructose-1-6-bisphosphatase/)
- [Glycogen phosphorylase](https://durgical.com/en/biochemistry/enzymes/glycogen-phosphorylase/)
- [Glycogen](https://durgical.com/en/biochemistry/molecules/glycogen/)

## Test yourself

Think of the answer, then tap the question to see it.

## Why does muscle not release glucose into the blood?

It has no glucose-6-phosphatase; it uses its glucose 6-phosphate only in glycolysis.

## In which cell compartment does glucose-6-phosphatase work?

In the lumen of the endoplasmic reticulum, which glucose 6-phosphate reaches through the SLC37A4 transporter.

## Why does its deficiency raise uric acid?

Trapped glucose 6-phosphate feeds the pentose pathway (more purines) and lactate competes with urate in the kidney.

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Educational information, not medical advice. For any symptom, see a health professional.

Sources: [G6PC1: Glucose-6-phosphatase catalytic subunit 1 (human)](https://www.uniprot.org/uniprotkb/P35575/entry) (UniProt, 2026); [G6PC1 gene: MedlinePlus Genetics](https://medlineplus.gov/genetics/gene/g6pc1/) (MedlinePlus, US National Library of Medicine, 2026); [SLC37A4 gene: MedlinePlus Genetics](https://medlineplus.gov/genetics/gene/slc37a4/) (MedlinePlus, US National Library of Medicine, 2026); [9JTM: Human glucose 6 phosphate catalytic subunit 1 (hG6PC1) bound with G6P](https://www.rcsb.org/structure/9JTM) (RCSB Protein Data Bank, 2026); Textbook of Biochemistry for Medical Students, 6th ed. (Jaypee Brothers Medical Publishers (Vasudevan DM, Sreekumari S, Vaidyanathan K), 2011).

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Representative model, for educational purposes only.

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Source: https://durgical.com/en/biochemistry/enzymes/glucose-6-phosphatase/
License: CC BY 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/). Cite as: DurgiPedia (durgical.com), https://durgical.com/en/biochemistry/enzymes/glucose-6-phosphatase/