A functional analysis of the pyrimidine catabolic pathway in Arabidopsis.

ABSTRACT: * Reductive catabolism of pyrimidine nucleotides occurs via a three-step pathway in which uracil is degraded to beta-alanine, CO(2) and NH(3) through sequential activities of dihydropyrimidine dehydrogenase (EC 1.3.1.2, PYD1), dihydropyrimidinase (EC 3.5.2.2, PYD2) and beta-ureidopropionase (EC 3.5.1.6, PYD3). * A proposed function of this pathway, in addition to the maintenance of pyrimidine homeostasis, is the recycling of pyrimidine nitrogen to general nitrogen metabolism. PYD expression and catabolism of [2-(14)C]-uracil are markedly elevated in response to nitrogen limitation in plants, which can utilize uracil as a nitrogen source. * PYD1, PYD2 and PYD3 knockout mutants were used for functional analysis of this pathway in Arabidopsis. pyd mutants exhibited no obvious phenotype under

SUBMITTER: Zrenner R 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2713857 | biostudies-literature | 2009

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature