Dihydropyrimidinase () is an enzyme characterised from bovine liver that catalyzes the hydrolysis of dihydrouracil to 3-ureidopropionic acid:
The enzyme also acts on dihydrothymine and these reactions are part of the catabolism of pyrimidines. Although a deficiency of the enzyme is rare in humans, it can lead to mental retardation and gastrointestinal problems.
This enzyme is a hydrolase, one acting on carbon-nitrogen bonds other than peptide bonds, specifically in cyclic amides. The systematic name of this enzyme class is 5,6-dihydropyrimidine amidohydrolase. Other names in common use include hydantoinase, hydropyrimidine hydrase, hydantoin peptidase, pyrimidine hydrase, and D-hydantoinase.
Structural studies As of late 2007, 10 structures have been solved for this class of enzymes, with PDB accession codes , , , , , , , , , and .
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