G6pd2, also known as glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase 2, is a gene related to glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase. It is involved in the pentose phosphate pathway (PPP), which is crucial for generating NADPH, an important cofactor for fatty acid synthesis and desaturation [2]. The PPP also plays roles in nucleotide synthesis and maintaining redox balance.

In mice after myocardial infarction, an increase in PPP genes including G6pd2 was observed at day 7, indicating enhanced PPP activity during macrophage polarization from the pro-inflammatory M1 to the anti-inflammatory M2 phenotype [1]. In Mortierella alpina, overexpression of G6pd2 significantly increased total fatty acid synthesis, suggesting its key role in lipogenesis [2]. In C57BL/6 mice exposed to ionizing radiation, the mRNA level of G6PD2 in gonadal white adipose tissue decreased, which was associated with fat accumulation [3]. In db/db mice treated with catalpol, the expression of G6pd2 was significantly altered, which was related to the anti-diabetic effect of catalpol [4]. In liver-specific pyruvate dehydrogenase complex-deficient (L-PDCKO) male mice, the expression of G6pd2 in the liver was downregulated, along with changes in lipogenic and glucose metabolism-related genes [5]. In soybean roots under drought stress, nitric oxide (NO) and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) negatively regulated the gene expression of compartmented G6PD including G6PD2 [6]. In maize and sorghum roots, G6PD2 was part of the conserved modules related to nitrogen and carbohydrate metabolism in response to nitrate treatment [7].

In conclusion, G6pd2 is essential in the pentose phosphate pathway, influencing processes like macrophage polarization, fatty acid synthesis, fat accumulation, glucose metabolism, and plant stress responses. Studies using mouse models have revealed its role in disease-related conditions such as myocardial infarction, diabetes-related metabolic changes, and radiation-induced fat accumulation, providing insights into the underlying mechanisms and potential therapeutic targets.