Catalyzes the NADPH-dependent reduction of a wide variety of carbonyl-containing compounds to their corresponding alcohols (  ). Displays strong enzymatic activity toward all-trans-retinal, 9-cis-retinal, and 13-cis-retinal (, ). Plays a critical role in detoxifying dietary and lipid-derived unsaturated carbonyls, such as crotonaldehyde, 4-hydroxynonenal, trans-2-hexenal, trans-2,4-hexadienal and their glutathione-conjugates carbonyls (GS-carbonyls) (, ). Displays no reductase activity towards glucose .
Subcellular locations: Lysosome, Secreted
Secreted through a lysosome-mediated non-classical pathway.
Found in many tissues. Highly expressed in small intestine, colon and adrenal gland.