Ribose-5-phosphate isomerase is an enzyme that plays a crucial role in the pentose phosphate pathway, a metabolic process that generates ribose-5-phosphate and other sugars. This enzyme catalyzes the reversible conversion of ribose-5-phosphate to ribulose-5-phosphate, facilitating the interconversion of these sugar phosphates. This enzyme is important for cellular metabolism, particularly in the synthesis of nucleotides and nucleic acids, which are essential for DNA and RNA production. By regulating the levels of ribose-5-phosphate, ribose-5-phosphate isomerase helps maintain the balance of metabolic pathways that are vital for cell growth and function.