Current knowledge on ovine glucose 6-phosphate dehydrogenase (g6pd): from enzymatic activity to -omics approaches and future perspectives

Glucose 6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD), a cytosolic enzyme encoded by a housekeeping X-linked gene, catalyzes the first committed reaction of the pentose phosphate shunt. The enzyme became known due to its involvement in hemolytic cases, known as G6PD deficiency in human. Its main function is the production of NADPH which is further used, also, oxidative substances and in reductive biosynthetic reactions. In sheep, it plays also a crucial role in the de novo synthesis of fatty acids, rendering it as a potential marker of lipogenesis. The present review highlights all the advances conducted so far regarding the ovine G6PD from the early stage of enzymatic level up to the novel approaches of molecular and proteomic level. Where necessary, human counterpart is used as a reference to point out the importance of the findings. The -omics approaches are discussed as a tool for future potential control of fatty acid synthesis and ovine products’ quality improvement. Future perspectives are also discussed. The here presented information may form a basis for scientists to develop new approaches in the field of ruminant’s lipogenesis.