Essential oxidoreductase that oxidizes proteins in the endoplasmic reticulum to produce disulfide bonds. Acts by oxidizing directly P4HB/PDI isomerase through a direct disulfide exchange. Does not act as a direct oxidant of folding substrate, but relies on P4HB/PDI to transfer oxidizing equivalent. Associates with ERP44 but not with GRP54, demonstrating that it does not oxidize all PDI related proteins and can discriminate between PDI and related proteins. Its reoxidation probably involves electron transfer to molecular oxygen via FAD. Acts independently of glutathione. May be responsible for a significant proportion of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in the cell, thereby being a source of oxidative stress. Required for the folding of immunoglobulin proteins (By similarity). Plays an important role in ER stress-induced, CHOP-dependent apoptosis by activating the inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate receptor IP3R1 (By similarity).