Dihydroorotate is a chemical compound that plays a crucial role in the biosynthesis of pyrimidine nucleotides, which are essential for DNA and RNA synthesis. It is formed from carbamoyl phosphate and aspartate through a series of enzymatic reactions in the de novo pathway of nucleotide synthesis. In the body, dihydroorotate is converted into orotate by the enzyme dihydroorotate dehydrogenase. This conversion is significant in the production of uridine monophosphate (UMP), a precursor for other pyrimidine nucleotides. Dihydroorotate is also of interest in pharmacology, as inhibitors of its metabolism can be used in treating certain autoimmune diseases.