G6pc2 - glucose-6-phosphatase, catalytic, 2

This gene encodes an enzyme that belongs to the glucose-6-phosphatase catalytic subunit family. Members of this family catalyze the hydrolysis of glucose-6-phosphate, the terminal step in gluconeogenic and glycogenolytic pathways, to release glucose into the bloodstream. The family member encoded by this gene is found specifically in pancreatic islets but has not been shown to have phosphotransferase or phosphatase activity exhibited by a similar liver enzyme. The non-obese diabetic (NOD) mouse is a model for human type 1 diabetes, an autoimmune disease in which T lymphocytes attack and destroy insulin-producing pancreatic beta cells. In NOD mice, the protein encoded by this gene is a major target of cell-mediated autoimmunity. Variations in the human and mouse genes are associated with lower fasting plasma glucose levels. Alternative splicing results in multiple transcript variants. [provided by RefSeq, Jan 2014]