During fertilization in mammals, the sperm activates the egg by causing an increase in the level of free cytoplasmic calcium concentration. This increased calcium concentration induces a characteristic series of oscillations that trigger egg activation and early embryo development. A hamster protein named oscillin is thought to be involved in this pathway. The enzyme glucosamine-6-phosphate isomerase (GNPI) or deaminase (GNPDA1) and the related protein GNPDA2 are the human homologs of hamster oscillin. GNPDA1 and GNPDA2 catalyze the conversion of GNP to fructose-6-phosphate and ammonia. Both proteins exist as homohexamers and are ubiquitously expressed with highest expression in testis, ovary and heart. Three isoforms of GNPDA2 are expressed due to alternative splicing events.
