Role of a Novel Enzyme in Carbohydrate Metabolism

Consider the following scenario involving the metabolism of a carbohydrate in human cells:

A recent study examined the enzymatic pathways of glucose metabolism, focusing on glycolysis and the pentose phosphate pathway (PPP). The researchers identified a novel enzyme that catalyzes the reaction between glucose-6-phosphate (G6P) and a specific coenzyme, producing ribulose-5-phosphate (Ru5P) and an additional by-product. To understand the implications of this new enzyme, it is critical to identify its effect on the metabolic pathways and the overall cellular bioenergetics.

Which one of the following describes the primary role of the newly identified enzyme in relation with the pathways mentioned above?