Uridine 5'-triphosphate (UTP) is a nucleotide and dual agonist of purinergic P2Y2 and P2Y4 receptors (EC50s = 55 and 80 nM, respectively, for stimulation of phospholipase C in 1321N1 cells expressing human receptors).1,2 It is selective for P2Y2 and P2Y4 receptors over P2Y6 receptors (EC50 = >10,000 nM).2 UTP stimulates proliferation of PANC-1 cells (EC50 = 13.1 μM), an effect that can be prevented by siRNA against the P2Y2 receptor.1 It induces vasoconstriction in perfused isolated canine epicardial coronary artery in a concentration-dependent manner.3 UTP is formed from uridine monophosphate (UMP) by two sequential phosphorylations and can be converted to cytidine 5'-triphosphate .4 It also reacts with glucose-1-phosphate to form UDP-glucose , a precursor in the biosynthesis of glycogen.5
1.Choi, J.H., Ji, Y.G., and Lee, D.H.Uridine triphosphate increases proliferation of human cancerous pancreatic duct epithelial cells by activating P2Y2 receptorPancreas42(4)680-686(2013) 2.Maruoka, H., Jayasekara, M.P.S., Barrett, M.O., et al.Pyrimidine nucleotides with 4-alkyloxyimino and terminal tetraphosphate δ-ester modifications as selective agonists of the P2Y4 receptorJ. Med. Chem.54(12)4018-4033(2011) 3.Matsumoto, T., Nakane, T., and Chiba, S.UTP induces vascular responses in the isolated and perfused canine epicardial coronary artery via UTP-preferring P2Y receptorsBr. J. Pharmacol.122(8)1625-1632(1997) 4.Berg, J.M., Tymoczko, J.L., and Stryer, L.In de novo synthesis, the pyrimidine ring is assembled from bicarbonate, aspartate, and glutamineBiochemistry(2002) 5.Berg, J.M., Tymoczko, J.L., and Stryer, L.Glycogen is synthesized and degraded by different pathwaysBiochemistry(2002)