UDP-GlcDH (also called UDP-glucose 6-dehydrogenase, UGDH or UDPGDH) is a member of the UDP-glucose/GDP-mannose dehydrogenase family. UDP-GlcDH converts UDP-glucose to UDP-glucuronic acid, which is a crucial component in the biosynthesis of the glycosaminoglycans, hyaluronan, heparan sulfate and chondroitin sulfate. Found as common components of the extracellular matrix, these glycosaminoglycans are significant in signal transduction, cell migration, cancer growth and cancer metastasis. UDP-glucuronic acid (UDP-GlcA) is needed in the liver for the excretion of toxic compounds. UDP-GlcDH is a ubiquitously expressed protein most abundant in the liver. The protein structure of UDP-GlcDH was first analyzed in cow liver and found to be a homohexamer. This structure is well conserved between species and phyla with an overall 97% sequence identity shared between different species of mammals. Research indicates that UDP-GlcDH expression is upregulated by TGF∫ and downregulated by hypoxia.