TIGAR (TP53 induced glycolysis regulatory phosphatase) is a p53-inducible enzyme that functions as a fructose-2,6-bisphosphatase, playing a dual role in metabolic regulation and cellular protection. Its primary function involves inhibiting glycolysis by hydrolyzing fructose-2,6-bisphosphate, thereby redirecting glucose flux toward the pentose phosphate pathway (PPP) to generate NADPH and ribose 1. This metabolic reprogramming reduces intracellular reactive oxygen species and enhances DNA repair capacity 2. TIGAR expression is transcriptionally regulated by p53 family members and various transcription factors, with its activity being stress-responsive 1. Beyond its enzymatic function, TIGAR exhibits non-canonical roles through protein-protein interactions, including binding to TAK1 to promote inflammatory responses in sepsis 3 and regulating autophagy pathways through LRRK2-mediated mechanisms in adipocytes 4. In disease contexts, TIGAR demonstrates complex roles: it can be protective by reducing oxidative stress in cardiovascular and neurological conditions 2, yet promotes tumor survival and chemoresistance by enhancing PPP flux and DNA repair in cancer cells 5. TIGAR's involvement in metabolic reprogramming makes it a potential therapeutic target for obesity, cancer, and inflammatory diseases, though its dual protective and pathogenic functions require careful consideration in therapeutic applications.