Protein functions as a downstream target of p53. TIGAR shares the catalytic bisphosphate domain of glycolytic enzyme fructose-2,6-bisphosphate. It dampens glycolysis to direct pathway into pentose phosphate pathway in which NADPH is produced that can later be used in GSH synthesis. GSH then can be used to reduce reactive oxygen species(ROS) to protect cells from DNA damage and associated apoptosis.

3DCY(PDB)