deoxyuridine triphosphatase

Symbol

DUT (may also be known as: None)

Organism

Human

Description

This gene encodes an essential enzyme of nucleotide metabolism. The encoded protein forms a ubiquitous, homotetrameric enzyme that hydrolyzes dUTP to dUMP and pyrophosphate. This reaction serves two cellular purposes: providing a precursor (dUMP) for the synthesis of thymine nucleotides needed for DNA replication, and limiting intracellular pools of dUTP. Elevated levels of dUTP lead to increased incorporation of uracil into DNA, which induces extensive excision repair mediated by uracil glycosylase. This repair process, resulting in the removal and reincorporation of dUTP, is self-defeating and leads to DNA fragmentation and cell death. Alternative splicing of this gene leads to different isoforms that localize to either the mitochondrion or nucleus. A related pseudogene is located on chromosome 19. [provided by RefSeq, Jul 2008]

Links to external resources

Changes associated with this gene

Identifier Name Type Tissues Organism Gene Data Actions
DAA3107 Gene expression of DUT increases with age Molecular skin Human DUT —

GO Terms

GO IDGO TermGO Category
GO:0006139 nucleobase-containing compound metabolic process biological_process
GO:0006206 pyrimidine base metabolic process biological_process
GO:0006260 DNA replication biological_process
GO:0009117 nucleotide metabolic process biological_process
GO:0044281 small molecule metabolic process biological_process
GO:0046080 dUTP metabolic process biological_process
GO:0046134 pyrimidine nucleoside biosynthetic process biological_process
GO:0055086 nucleobase-containing small molecule metabolic process biological_process
GO:0005634 nucleus cellular_component
GO:0005654 nucleoplasm cellular_component
GO:0005739 mitochondrion cellular_component
GO:0004170 dUTP diphosphatase activity molecular_function
GO:0005515 protein binding molecular_function
GO:0016787 hydrolase activity molecular_function