Pyrimidine Metabolism
Pyrimidine metabolism involves the synthesis and breakdown of pyrimidines, which are essential nitrogenous bases found in nucleotides like cytosine, thymine, and uracil. The de novo synthesis pathway begins with carbamoyl phosphate and aspartate, leading to the formation of orotate, which is then converted into UMP (uridine monophosphate).
Once synthesized, pyrimidines can be phosphorylated to form UDP and UTP, which are crucial for RNA synthesis and energy metabolism. The breakdown of pyrimidines involves the conversion of nucleotides back into their constituent bases, which can be recycled or excreted as beta-alanine and beta-aminoisobutyric acid.