Uracil Phosphoribosyltransferase (UPRT)

UPRT encodes uracil phosphoribosyltransferase, which catalyzes the conversion of uracil and 5-phosphoribosyl-1-R-diphosphate to uridine monophosphate (UMP). This reaction is an important part of nucleotide metabolism, specifically the pyrimidine salvage pathway. The enzyme localizes to the nucleus and cytoplasm. The protein is a potential target for rational design of drugs to treat parasitic infections and cancer.

The deduced 309-amino acid protein contains a putative uracil phosphoribosyltransferase domain and has a calculated molecular mass of 33.8 kD. RT-PCR detected high UPRT expression in blood leukocytes, liver, spleen, and thymus, with lower expression in prostate, heart, brain, lung, and skeletal muscle.