Pyrimidine Catabolism

Pathways for pyrimidine catabolism are shown in Figure 22.11. Pyrimidine bases are broken down through a common uracil intermediate, which is subsequently converted to dihydrouracil, followed by -ureidopropionic acid, and finally -alanine, ammonia and CO 2 .

One of the breakdown products, -alanine, is used for biosynthesis of coenzyme A.

See also: Nucleotide Salvage Synthesis, De Novo Pyrimidine Nucleotide Metabolism