Uridine phosphorylase

In enzymology, an uridine phosphorylase is an enzyme that catalyzes the chemical reaction


 * uridine + phosphate $$\rightleftharpoons$$ uracil + alpha-D-ribose 1-phosphate

Thus, the two substrates of this enzyme are uridine and phosphate, whereas its two products are uracil and alpha-D-ribose 1-phosphate.

This enzyme belongs to the family of glycosyltransferases, specifically the pentosyltransferases. The systematic name of this enzyme class is uridine:phosphate alpha-D-ribosyltransferase. Other names in common use include pyrimidine phosphorylase, UrdPase, UPH, and UPase. This enzyme participates in pyrimidine metabolism.

Structural studies
As of late 2007, 27 structures have been solved for this class of enzymes, with PDB accession codes, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , and.