The enzyme G6PD catalyzes the oxidation of glucose-6-phosphate. It binds to the substrate glucose-6-phosphate and the cofactor NADP+ in its active site, facilitating a hydride transfer from glucose-6-phosphate to NADP+, which generates NADPH and 6-phosphoglucono-δ-lactone. This reaction is the rate-limiting step of the pentose phosphate pathway.
