| Systematic (IUPAC) name | |
|---|---|
| 1,2,3,6-tetrahydro-2,6-dioxo-4-pyrimidinecarboxylic acid | |
| Clinical data | |
| AHFS/Drugs.com | International Drug Names |
| Pregnancy cat. | ? |
| Legal status | ? |
| Identifiers | |
| CAS number | 65-86-1 |
| ATC code | None |
| PubChem | CID 967 |
| DrugBank | EXPT02447 |
| UNII | 61H4T033E5 |
| KEGG | C00295 |
| Chemical data | |
| Formula | C5H4N2O4 |
| Mol. mass | 156.10 g/mol |
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Orotic acid is a heterocyclic compound and an acid; it is also known as pyrimidinecarboxylic acid. Historically it was believed to be part of the Vitamin B complex and was called vitamin B13, but it is now known that it is not a vitamin.
The compound is manufactured in the body by intestinal flora. It is sometimes used as a mineral carrier in some dietary supplements (to increase their bioavailability), most commonly for lithium orotate.
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Dihydroorotate is synthesized to orotic acid by the enzyme dihydroorate dehydrogenase, where it later combines with phosphoribosyl pyrophosphate (PRPP) to form orotidylate (OMP). A distinguishing characteristic of pyrimidine synthesis is that the pyrimidine ring is fully synthesized before being attached to the ribose sugar, whereas purine synthesis happens by building the base directly on the sugar.[1]
A buildup of orotic acid can lead to orotic aciduria. It may be a symptom of an increased ammonia load due to a metabolic disorder, such as a urea cycle disorder.
In ornithine transcarbamoylase deficiency, a disorder of the urea cycle, excess carbamoyl phosphate is converted into orotic acid. This typically leads to increased urinary orotic acid excretion, because the orotic acid is not being properly utilized and must be eliminated.
Orotic acid can be mutagenic (causes mutations) in mammalian somatic cells. It is also mutagenic for bacteria and or yeast.
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