This enzyme belongs to the family of hydrolases, specifically those acting on acid anhydrides in phosphorus-containing anhydrides. The systematic name of this enzyme class is dUTP nucleotidohydrolase. Other names in common use include deoxyuridine-triphosphatase, dUTPase, dUTP pyrophosphatase, desoxyuridine 5'-triphosphate nucleotidohydrolase, and desoxyuridine 5'-triphosphatase. This enzyme participates in pyrimidine metabolism.
This enzyme has a dual function: on one hand, it removes dUTP from the deoxynucleotide pool, which reduces the probability of this base being incorporated into DNA by DNA polymerases, while on the other hand, it produces the dTTP precursor dUMP. Lack or inhibition of dUTPase action leads to harmful perturbations in the nucleotide pool resulting in increased uracil content of DNA that activates a hyperactive futile cycle of DNA repair.[1][2]
The second family has a novel all-alpha fold, members of this family are unrelated to the all-beta fold found in dUTPases of the majority of organisms.[4]
See also
DUT, the gene that codes for this enzyme in humans
DnaS or dut, the gene that codes for this enzyme in E. coli
^Moroz, O. V.; Harkiolaki, M.; Galperin, M. Y.; Vagin, A. A.; González-Pacanowska, D.; Wilson, K. S. (2004). "The Crystal Structure of a Complex of Campylobacter jejuni dUTPase with Substrate Analogue Sheds Light on the Mechanism and Suggests the "Basic Module" for Dimeric d(C/U)TPases". Journal of Molecular Biology. 342 (5): 1583–1597. doi:10.1016/j.jmb.2004.07.050. PMID15364583.