R04B5.5 encodes one of two C. elegans sorbitol dehydrogense orthologs; by homology the product of R04B5.5 is predicted to catalyze the reversible oxidation of sorbitol to fructose in the presence of NAD+; in the embryo, an R04B5.5::gfp fusion is expressed in body wall muscle, gut, and tail hypodermis.
Predicted to enable L-iditol 2-dehydrogenase activity. Predicted to be involved in sorbitol catabolic process. Expressed in body wall musculature and intestine. Human ortholog(s) of this gene implicated in sorbitol dehydrogenase deficiency with peripheral neuropathy. Is an ortholog of human SORD (sorbitol dehydrogenase).