Pyrimidine metabolism
Pyrimidine Metabolism
Pyrimidine metabolism (pronunciation: /pɪˈrɪmɪdiːn/ meh-tab-oh-liz-uhm) is a crucial biological process that involves the synthesis and degradation of pyrimidine nucleotides, which are essential components of DNA and RNA.
Etymology
The term "pyrimidine" is derived from the Greek word "pyrimidos," which means "brick." This is in reference to the ring-like structure of pyrimidine molecules. The term "metabolism" comes from the Greek word "metabole," which means "change."
Synthesis of Pyrimidines
The synthesis of pyrimidines involves a series of biochemical reactions that result in the formation of the pyrimidine nucleotides cytosine, thymine, and uracil. This process begins with the formation of carbamoyl phosphate from glutamine and carbon dioxide in the presence of the enzyme carbamoyl phosphate synthetase II. The carbamoyl phosphate then combines with aspartate to form orotic acid, which is then converted into uridine monophosphate (UMP). UMP is the precursor to all other pyrimidine nucleotides.
Degradation of Pyrimidines
The degradation of pyrimidines involves the breakdown of pyrimidine nucleotides into their constituent parts. This process begins with the deamination of cytosine and uracil to form uracil and thymine, respectively. These bases are then further broken down into beta-alanine and beta-aminoisobutyrate, which are excreted in the urine.
Disorders of Pyrimidine Metabolism
Disorders of pyrimidine metabolism are rare but can lead to a variety of symptoms, including developmental delay, seizures, and anemia. Examples of these disorders include orotic aciduria, dihydropyrimidine dehydrogenase deficiency, and pyrimidinemia.
Related Terms
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Pyrimidine metabolism
- Wikipedia's article - Pyrimidine metabolism
This WikiMD dictionary article is a stub. You can help make it a full article.
Languages: - East Asian
中文,
日本,
한국어,
South Asian
हिन्दी,
Urdu,
বাংলা,
తెలుగు,
தமிழ்,
ಕನ್ನಡ,
Southeast Asian
Indonesian,
Vietnamese,
Thai,
မြန်မာဘာသာ,
European
español,
Deutsch,
français,
русский,
português do Brasil,
Italian,
polski