The protein encoded by this gene is a transketolase that acts as a homodimer and catalyzes the conversion of sedoheptulose 7-phosphate and D-glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate to D-ribose 5-phosphate and D-xylulose 5-phosphate. This reaction links the pentose phosphate pathway with the glycolytic pathway. Variations in this gene may be the cause of Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome. Three transcript variants encoding different isoforms have been found for this gene. [provided by RefSeq, Mar 2011].