dihydroorotate

chemical compound

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June 25, 2026

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Dihydroorotate is a chemical compound that plays a role in the synthesis of pyrimidine nucleotides, which are essential building blocks for RNA and DNA. The process begins with aspartate and carbamoyl phosphate condensing to form N-carbamoylaspartate. This compound then loses water, catalyzed by dihydroorotase, to produce dihydroorotate.1

Dihydroorotate is subsequently oxidized to orotate by dihydroorotic acid dehydrogenase. Orotate then accepts a pentose phosphate moiety from 5-phosphoribose 1-pyrophosphate (PRPP) and loses carbon dioxide to form the pyrimidine nucleotide, uridylic acid (UMP). This pathway is crucial for cellular function, and deficiencies in enzymes involved in these steps can lead to metabolic disorders like orotic aciduria.12

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metabolism
Pyrimidine ribonucleotides
The product, dihydroorotate, is then oxidized to orotate in a reaction catalyzed by dihydroorotic acid dehydrogenase, in which NAD⁺ is reduced ([72]).
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The product, dihydroorotate, is then oxidized to orotate in a reaction catalyzed by dihydroorotic acid dehydrogenase, in which NAD⁺ is reduced ([72]).
Read More