Function
Deoxyuridine 5’-triphosphate nucleotidohydrolase (DUTP) catalyzes the conversion of dUTP to dUMP and pyrophosphate (PPi). DUTP plays a key role in keeping significant amounts of dUTP from the DNA synthesis pathway.
Prokaryotic DUTP contains metal ion. [1]
Relevance
DUTP inhibitors are being tested as possible anti-bacterial agents targeting diseases like malaria, leishmaniasis, tuberculosis and trypanosomiasis.
Structural highlights
The contains Mg+2 ions which are essensial for DUTP activity. The Mg+2 ions are hexacordinated to acidic residues and water molecules.[2]
