MOLECULE

Uridine diphosphate glucose

Uridine diphosphate glucose, also known as udpglucose or UDP-alpha-D-glucose, belongs to the class of organic compounds known as pyrimidine nucleotide sugars. These are pyrimidine nucleotides bound to a saccharide derivative through the terminal phosphate group. Uridine diphosphate glucose is an extremely weak basic (essentially neutral) compound (based on its pKa). Uridine diphosphate glucose exists in all living species, ranging from bacteria to humans. Within humans, uridine diphosphate glucose participates in a number of enzymatic reactions. In particular, galactose 1-phosphate and uridine diphosphate glucose can be biosynthesized from uridine diphosphategalactose and glucose 1-phosphate; which is catalyzed by the enzyme galactose-1-phosphate uridylyltransferase. In addition, uridine diphosphate glucose can be biosynthesized from uridine diphosphategalactose through its interaction with the enzyme UDP-glucose 4-epimerase. In humans, uridine diphosphate glucose is involved in galactose metabolism. Outside of the human body, Uridine diphosphate glucose has been detected, but not quantified in, several different foods, such as tea, ostrich ferns, chickpea, cinnamons, and sourdoughs. This could make uridine diphosphate glucose a potential biomarker for the consumption of these foods. Uridine diphosphate glucose is expected to be in Cannabis as all living plants are known to produce and metabolize it.