Uridine, also known as beta-uridine or 1-beta-D-ribofuranosylpyrimidine-2,4(1H,3H)-dione, is a member of the class of compounds known as pyrimidine nucleosides. Pyrimidine nucleosides are compounds comprising a pyrimidine base attached to a ribosyl or deoxyribosyl moiety. More specifically, uridine is a nucleoside consisting of uracil and D-ribose and a component of RNA. L-glutamine is obtained form protein sources in the diet and is metabolized to uridine in the liver. L-glutamine is first converted to carbamoyl phosphate then to N-Carbamoyl-L-aspartate and finally to dihydroorotate by the CAD protein (carbamoyl-phosphate synthetase 2, aspartate transcarbamylase, and dihydroorotase). Dihydroorotate is converted to orotate in the mitochondria of the cell using the enzyme dihydroorotate dehydrogenase .Orotate is converted to orotidine 5'-phosphate then Uridine 5'-monophosphate by the enzyme uridine 5'-monophosphate synthase. Finally, uridine 5'-monophosphate forms uridine via cytosolic 5'-nucleotidase 1B. uridine enters the blood stream and may have affect tissues such as the kidney, where it can contribute to renal failure.

Metabolism and Physiological Effects of Uridine References