In the non-oxidative branch of the pentose phosphate pathway, xylulose-5-phosphate acts as a donor of two-carbon ketone groups in transketolase reactions.

[2] Xylulose-5-phosphate also plays a crucial role in the regulation of glycolysis through its interaction with the bifunctional enzyme PFK2/FBPase2.

[3] As a result, the production of fructose 2,6-bisphosphate increases, ultimately leading to an upregulation of glycolysis.

[4] Although previously thought of mainly as an intermediary in the pentose phosphate pathway, recent research reported that the sugar also has a role in gene expression, mainly by promoting the ChREBP transcription factor in the well-fed state.

[5][6] However, more recent study showed that D-glucose-6-phosphate, rather than D-xylulose-5-phosphate, is essential for the activation of ChREBP in response to glucose.