Nucleotidases

Nucleotidases are enzymes that hydrolyze a phosphate from a nucleoside monophosphate to yield a nucleoside and a free phosphate (Figure 22.2). An example reaction catalyzed by a nucleotidase is as follows:

> CMP + H 2O <=> Cytidine + Pi

Figure 22.7 shows pathways of purine catabolism leading to uric acid. As seen in the figure, AMP and GMP can both be hydrolyzed from their phosphates by nucleotidase, ultimately yielding the bases hypoxanthine and xanthine, respectively.

See also: Pathways in Nucleotide Metabolism, Nucleotide Salvage Synthesis, Purine Degradation, Pyrimidine Catabolism