Based on previous studies which have revealed that glucose 1,6-bisphosphate (Glc-1,6-P2) is a potent inhibitor of muscle hexokinase and an activator (deinhibitor) of phosphofructokinase and phosphoglucomutase, the effect of epinephrine on the levels of this regulator in rat diaphragm muscle was investigated. It was found that epinephrine caused an increase in diaphragm Glc-1,6-P2 levels, accompanied by a reduction in the activity of hexokinase and an activation (deinhibition) of phosphofructokinase and phosphoglucomutase. N6-2'-O-dibutyryl cyclic AMP was able to mimic all these effects of epinephrine. The concentration of glucose-6-phosphate was not changed by epinephrine, under conditions in which the hormone produced an increase in cyclic AMP and Glc-1,6-P2 levels and the concomitant decrease in hexokinase activity. It was also shown that Glc-1,6-P, in the concentration range found after epinephrine, inhibited the diaphragm hexokinase and deinhibited phosphoglucomutase. These results may suggest a mechanism of epinephrine action by which the activities of hexokinase, phosphoglucomutase and phosphofructokinase, through the action of Glc-1,6-P2, are synchronized with the cyclic AMP-mediated activation of glycogen phosphorylase, to achieve an increase in total glycogenolysis and glycolysis and a concomitant reduction in glucose utilization by the muscle.