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Updated: Jul 19, 2026

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Published on: February 24, 2021
Activity of pyrimidine degradation enzymes in normal tissues
A B P van Kuilenburg1, H van Lenthe, A H van Gennip
1Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, Emma Children's Hospital and Departments of Clinical Chemistry, Amsterdam, The Netherlands. a.b.vanKuilenburg@amc.uva.nl
Abstract:
In this study, we measured the activity of dihydropyrimidine dehydrogenase (DPD), dihydropyrimidinase (DHP) and beta-ureidopropionase (beta-UP), using radiolabeled substrates, in 16 different tissues obtained at autopsy from a single patient. The activity of DPD could be detected in all tissues examined, with the highest activity being present in spleen and liver. Surprisingly, the highest activity of DHP was present in kidney followed by that of liver. Furthermore, a low DHP activity could also be detected in 8 other tissues. The highest activity of beta-UP was detected in liver and kidney. However, low UP activities were also present in 8 other tissues. Our results demonstrated that the entire pyrimidine catabolic pathway was predominantly confined to the liver and kidney. However, significant residual activities of DPD, DHP and beta-UP were also present in a variety of other tissues, especially in bronchus.
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