Uridine Triphosphate (UTP)

UTP is a nucleotide that is a substrate for RNA polymerase in synthesis of RNA. It is also a precursor of CTP in de novo synthesis of pyrimidine nucleotides (Figure 22.10)

UTP + ATP + Gln <=> CTP + ADP + Glu + Pi (catalyzed by CTP synthetase)

UTP is a also used to activate sugars for polysaccharide synthesis, such as the reaction below, which activated glucose in glycogen biosynthesis:

Glucose-1-Phosphate + UTP <=> UDP-Glucose + PPi (catalyzed by UDP-Glucose Pyrophosphorylase)

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