Uridine triphosphate
Uridine Triphosphate
Uridine triphosphate (pronounced: yoo-ri-deen try-fos-fate), often abbreviated as UTP, is a nucleotide that is used as a monomer in RNA (ribonucleic acid). It is an ester of phosphoric acid with the nucleoside uridine.
Etymology
The term "Uridine triphosphate" is derived from the combination of "uridine", the name of the nucleoside it contains, and "triphosphate", referring to its three phosphate groups.
Function
UTP plays a crucial role in a variety of cellular functions. It is a substrate of RNA synthesis, where it pairs with adenine during the process of transcription. UTP is also involved in the metabolism of glycogen, where it acts as a glucose donor in the synthesis of glycogen.
In addition, UTP serves as a source of energy or an activator of substrates in metabolic reactions, like that of ATP (adenosine triphosphate). It also plays a role in the synthesis of glycosaminoglycans, the major components of the extracellular matrix.
Related Terms
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Uridine triphosphate
- Wikipedia's article - Uridine triphosphate
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