This reaction is a component of the hexose mono-phosphate shunt and pentose phosphate pathways (PPP).

[2][3] Prokaryotic and eukaryotic 6PGD are proteins of about 470 amino acids whose sequences are highly conserved.

[3] NADP is bound in a cleft in the small domain, the substrate binding in an adjacent pocket.

[5] Experiments using Escherichia coli selection strains revealed that this reaction was efficient enough to support the formation of biomass based solely on CO2 and pentose sugars.

Mutations within the gene coding this enzyme result in 6-phosphogluconate dehydrogenase deficiency, an autosomal hereditary disease affecting the red blood cells.