Which compound is recognized as a stimulator of gluconeogenesis?

The compound that is recognized as a stimulator of gluconeogenesis is citrate. Citrate is an intermediate in the citric acid cycle and plays a critical role in the regulation of metabolic pathways. When citrate accumulates, it indicates that the energy status of the cell is high, signaling that it is an opportune time to generate glucose through gluconeogenesis.

Citrate acts as an allosteric activator of key enzymes involved in gluconeogenesis, particularly fructose-1,6-bisphosphatase, which is a vital regulatory step of this metabolic process. This activation promotes the conversion of precursors like pyruvate and lactate into glucose, helping to maintain blood sugar levels during fasting or low carbohydrate intake.

Other compounds listed, such as fumarate, oxaloacetate, and pyruvate, also play roles in the metabolic processes related to gluconeogenesis but do not directly stimulate the pathway in the same way that citrate does. Fumarate is an intermediate in the Krebs cycle but does not have a primary role in gluconeogenesis. Oxaloacetate is a substrate used in the gluconeogenesis pathway rather than a stimulator. Pyruvate is also a critical substrate in gluconeogenesis; however