Final answer:
Hormone-sensitive lipase catalyzes the process of lipolysis, the breakdown of lipids into glycerol and free fatty acids which are used to produce energy when carbohydrates are insufficient.
Step-by-step explanation:
The enzyme hormone-sensitive lipase catalyzes the process called lipolysis. Lipolysis is the metabolic pathway through which lipid triglycerides are hydrolyzed into a glycerol and free fatty acids (FFA). When carbohydrates are not supplying adequate energy, lipolysis is triggered by certain hormones that signal the body's need for fuel. These hormones, like glucagon, adrenaline, and others, activate hormone-sensitive lipase which then breaks down stored fats in adipose tissue.
Lipolysis serves as an essential metabolic mechanism, especially when energy from carbohydrates is scarce. Free fatty acids released during lipolysis are transported to various tissues to be used as energy, while glycerol can be used by the liver and kidney for gluconeogenesis to synthesize glucose.