Nucleotide catabolism is the process by which nucleotides, the building blocks of DNA and RNA, are broken down into their constituent parts. This process involves the degradation of nucleotides into nucleosides and then further into nitrogenous bases, sugars, and phosphate groups. The breakdown helps recycle cellular components and manage energy levels within the cell. The primary pathways for nucleotide catabolism include the purine and pyrimidine degradation pathways. In purine catabolism, adenine and guanine are converted into uric acid, which is excreted from the body. Pyrimidine catabolism leads to the production of beta-alanine and beta-aminoisobutyric acid, which can be utilized in various metabolic processes.