Phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase (PEPCK), a critical gluconeogenic enzyme, catalyzes the first committed step in the diversion of tricarboxylic acid cycle intermediates toward gluconeogenesis. It catalyzes the reversible decarboxylation and phosphorylation of oxaloacetate to yield phosphoenolpyruvate and carbon dioxide, using a nucleotide molecule (GTP) for the phosphoryl transfer, and has a strict requirement for divalent metal ions for activity. PEPCK's separate into two phylogenetic groups based on their nucleotide substrate specificity, this model describes the GTP-dependent group.