Uridine-5'-bisphosphate disodium salt—the core nucleotide driving cellular metabolism and glycosylation research

Uridine-5'-bisphosphate disodium salt is a key member of the uridine nucleotide family in life. As an important metabolic intermediate and biosynthetic substrate, it plays an irreplaceable role in cellular energy conversion, sugar metabolism, and biomacromolecule synthesis. It is not only a core tool for basic biochemical research, but also an indispensable raw material in the fields of drug development and biomanufacturing.

Chemical Information

Chemical name: Uridine-5'-diphosphate disodium salt

Common name: UDP-disodium salt

English name: Uridine-5'-diphosphate disodium salt

Chemical formula: C9H15N2NaO12P2

Molecular weight: 428.16 g/mol

CAS number: 27821-45-0

Structural characteristics and biological roles

The core of uridine-5'-bisphosphate disodium salt lies in its active "diphosphate-sugar" structure:

High-energy glycosyl donor: UDP, as an "activated" glycosyl carrier, is an indispensable substrate in glycogen synthesis, glycoprotein and glycolipid biosynthesis. Common UDP-glucose, UDP-galactose, etc. are all derived from UDP.

Hub of cell metabolism: As the precursor of uridine triphosphate, it is directly involved in nucleic acid synthesis, cellular energy cycle (such as the conversion of UDP and UTP), and various cell signal transduction processes.

Excellent solubility and stability: The disodium salt form gives the compound excellent water solubility and chemical stability, which facilitates direct application in biochemical reaction systems and cell culture.

Main applications and advantages

1. The cornerstone of glycobiology and glycosylation research

Core substrate for glycosyltransferase research: UDP is a natural co-substrate for many glycosyltransferases and is an essential reagent for studying enzyme kinetics, screening inhibitors, and exploring glycosylation pathways in vitro.

Glycoconjugate synthesis: In the process of enzymatic synthesis of oligosaccharides, glycoproteins and glycolipids, UDP and its derivatives are direct donors of glycosyl units and provide raw materials for the development of uniform carbohydrate drugs and diagnostic reagents.

2. Drug development and toxicology research

Drug Metabolism Studies: Phase II metabolism of many drugs (especially those metabolized by glucuronidation) requires UDP-glucuronide as a cofactor. It is a key tool for studying drug metabolism, assessing drug interactions and hepatotoxicity mechanisms.

Research and development of P2Y receptor agonists/antagonists: UDP is an important signaling molecule in the body. It can affect a variety of physiological and pathological processes by activating specific P2Y purinergic receptors (such as P2Y6). It is an important lead compound and research tool for the development of new drugs for inflammation, cancer and neurological diseases.

3. Biomanufacturing and synthetic biology

When using microorganisms or cell factories to produce high-value compounds (such as rare sugars and glycoside natural products), supplementing UDP can help optimize and strengthen the intracellular glycosylation pathway and significantly increase the yield of target products.

Conclusion

Uridine-5'-diphosphate disodium salt is far more than a simple metabolite. It is a bridge connecting cellular energy, nucleic acid metabolism and complex glycobiology. From decoding disease-related glycosylation abnormalities to developing next-generation biopharmaceuticals and cell factories, its value is increasingly evident.