UGDH encoded by this gene converts UDP-glucose to UDP-glucuronate and thereby participates in the biosynthesis of glycosaminoglycans such as hyaluronan, chondroitin sulfate, and heparan sulfate. These glycosylated compounds are common components of the extracellular matrix and likely play roles in signal transduction, cell migration, and cancer growth and metastasis. The expression of this gene is up-regulated by transforming growth factor beta and down-regulated by hypoxia.

The predicted 494-amino acid human protein is 1 amino acid longer than mouse Udpgdh, and the 2 proteins are 98% identical. Both the human and mouse cDNAs contained at least 2 consensus polyadenylation sequences.