Uracil/thymine dehydrogenase explained

Uracil/thymine dehydrogenase
Ec Number:	1.17.99.4
Cas Number:	9029-00-9

Uracil/thymine dehydrogenase (uracil oxidase, uracil-thymine oxidase, uracil dehydrogenase) is an enzyme with systematic name uracil:acceptor oxidoreductase.^{[1] [2] [3] [4] [5]} This enzyme catalyses the following chemical reaction

(1) uracil + H₂O + acceptor

\rightleftharpoons barbiturate + reduced acceptor

(2) thymine + H₂O + acceptor

\rightleftharpoons 5-methylbarbiturate + reduced acceptor

Uracil/thymine dehydrogenase forms part of the oxidative pyrimidine-degrading pathway in some microorganisms.

Notes and References

1. Hayaishi O, Kornberg A . Metabolism of cytosine, thymine, uracil, and barbituric acid by bacterial enzymes . The Journal of Biological Chemistry . 197 . 2 . 717–32 . May 1952 . 12981104 .
2. Wang TP, Lampen JO . Metabolism of pyrimidines by a soil bacterium . The Journal of Biological Chemistry . 194 . 2 . 775–83 . February 1952 . 14927671 .
3. Wang TP, Lampen JO . Uracil oxidase and the isolation of barbituric acid from uracil oxidation . The Journal of Biological Chemistry . 194 . 2 . 785–91 . February 1952 . 14927672 .
4. Lara FJ . On the decomposition of pyrimidines by bacteria. II. Studies with cell-free enzyme preparations . Journal of Bacteriology . 64 . 2 . 279–85 . August 1952 . 14955523 . 169350 .
5. Soong CL, Ogawa J, Shimizu S . Novel amidohydrolytic reactions in oxidative pyrimidine metabolism: analysis of the barbiturase reaction and discovery of a novel enzyme, ureidomalonase . Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications . 286 . 1 . 222–6 . August 2001 . 11485332 . 10.1006/bbrc.2001.5356 .