H6PD (hexose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase, GDH/6PGL endoplasmic bifunctional protein) is a 789 amino acid protein encoded by the human gene H6PD. The N-terminal section of H6PD belongs to the glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase family, while the C-terminal section belongs to the glucosamine/galactosamine-6-phosphate isomerase family, 6-phosphogluconolactonase subfamily. H6PD is responsible primarily for the oxidation of glucose-6-phosphate and glucose. It also oxidizes other hexose-6-phosphates. H6PD catalyzes the conversion of glucose 6-phosphate to 6-phosphogluconolactone within the lumen of the endoplasmic reticulum, thereby generating reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate. Reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate is a necessary cofactor for the reductase activity of 11β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 1, which converts hormonally inactive cortisone to active cortisol (in rodents, 11-dehydrocorticosterone to corticosterone).
