Final answer:
Glycogen synthase (GS) is off during the fasted state, as the body is breaking down glycogen instead of synthesizing it in order to maintain blood glucose levels.
Step-by-step explanation:
The question asks whether glycogen synthase (GS) is active or inactive in the fasted state. During the fasted state, also known as the postabsorptive state, the body needs to maintain normal blood glucose levels. As blood glucose levels drop due to lack of food intake, insulin levels decrease, and the pancreas releases glucagon. Glucagon has the opposite effect of insulin and promotes the breakdown of glycogen into glucose (a process known as glycogenolysis) to maintain blood glucose homeostasis. As a result, glycogen synthase is off during fasting, since its role is to synthesize glycogen, and the body needs to break down glycogen to release glucose into the bloodstream, not store it.