URIDINE PHOSPHORYLASE Meaning and
Definition
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Uridine Phosphorylase is an enzyme that plays a crucial role in the metabolism of nucleotide bases, specifically uracil. It is responsible for catalyzing the reversible phosphorolysis of uridine, a nucleoside composed of the base uracil bonded to a ribose sugar molecule, into ribose-1-phosphate and uracil. This enzymatic reaction involves the cleavage of the glycosidic bond between the ribose sugar and the uracil base, resulting in the release of the sugar molecule linked to a phosphate group and the production of free uracil.
Uridine phosphorylase is part of the salvage pathway for uracil nucleotides, which allows the recycling of uracil produced during the degradation of RNA and DNA. By breaking down uridine and liberating the ribose-1-phosphate, this enzyme provides a major source of ribose-1-phosphate for the synthesis of other nucleotides, such as ATP or GTP.
This enzyme is found in various organisms, including bacteria, fungi, plants, and animals, indicating its evolutionary importance. In humans, uridine phosphorylase is particularly abundant in the liver, spleen, and lymphocytes. Dysregulation of this enzyme has been associated with several pathological conditions, such as cancer, inflammatory diseases, and deficiencies in the degradation of pyrimidine nucleosides.
Overall, uridine phosphorylase plays a critical role in nucleotide metabolism, facilitating the recycling of uracil and providing essential components for the synthesis of other nucleotides necessary for various cellular processes.
Common Misspellings for URIDINE PHOSPHORYLASE
- yridine phosphorylase
- hridine phosphorylase
- jridine phosphorylase
- iridine phosphorylase
- 8ridine phosphorylase
- 7ridine phosphorylase
- ueidine phosphorylase
- udidine phosphorylase
- ufidine phosphorylase
- utidine phosphorylase
- u5idine phosphorylase
- u4idine phosphorylase
- urudine phosphorylase
- urjdine phosphorylase
- urkdine phosphorylase
- urodine phosphorylase
- ur9dine phosphorylase
- ur8dine phosphorylase
- urisine phosphorylase
- urixine phosphorylase
Etymology of URIDINE PHOSPHORYLASE
The etymology of the word "Uridine Phosphorylase" can be broken down as follows:
1. Uridine: The word "uridine" is derived from the combination of two components: "uracil" and "ribose".
- Uracil: It is a nitrogenous base that is one of the four bases found in the nucleotides of RNA (ribonucleic acid).
- Ribose: It is a five-carbon sugar molecule that forms the backbone of RNA.
2. Phosphorylase: The word "phosphorylase" is made up of two parts: "phosphate" and the suffix "-ylase".
- Phosphate: It refers to a chemical group composed of phosphorus and oxygen atoms, commonly found in nucleotides.
