It primarily exists as a metabolic intermediate in both glycolysis during respiration and the Calvin cycle during photosynthesis.

The high-energy acyl phosphate bond of 1,3BPG is important in respiration as it assists in the formation of ATP.

The reaction occurs as follows; The transfer of an inorganic phosphate from the carboxyl group on 1,3BPG to ADP to form ATP is reversible due to a low ΔG.

During the reaction phosphoglycerate kinase undergoes a substrate induced conformational change similar to another metabolic enzyme called hexokinase.

Contrary to the similar reactions of the glycolytic pathway, 1,3BPG in the Calvin cycle does not produce ATP but instead uses it.

The outcome of this section of the cycle is an inorganic phosphate is removed from 1,3BPG as a hydrogen ion and two electrons are added to the compound+.

In complete reverse of the glycolytic pathway reaction, the enzyme phosphoglycerate kinase catalyses the reduction of the carboxyl group of 1,3BPG to form an aldehyde instead.

This reaction also releases an inorganic phosphate molecule which is subsequently used as energy for the donation of electrons from the conversion of NADPH to NADP+.

It is instead shunted through an alternate pathway involving the reduction of ATP in the red blood cells.