1,3BPG is an intermediate of glycolysis, gluconeogenesis, and the Calvin cycle, 1,3BPG is acted on by the enzymes glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase and phosphoglycerate kinase.

The acyl-phosphate group at position 1 is much more energy rich than the phosphate anhydride of ATP, so 1,3BPG has the energy to drive synthesis of ATP from ADP + Pi, which it does in the glycolysis reaction catalyzed by the enzyme phosphoglycerate kinase.