What is "dihydropyrimidinase"

n. (context enzyme English) A hydrolase enzyme, 5,6-dihydropyrimidine amidohydrolase.

In enzymology, a dihydropyrimidinase is an enzyme that catalyzes the chemical reaction

5,6-dihydrouracil + HO $\rightleftharpoons$ 3-ureidopropanoate

Thus, the two substrates of this enzyme are 5,6-dihydrouracil and HO, whereas its product is 3-ureidopropanoate.

This enzyme belongs to the family of hydrolases, those acting on carbon-nitrogen bonds other than peptide bonds, specifically in cyclic amides. The systematic name of this enzyme class is 5,6-dihydropyrimidine amidohydrolase. Other names in common use include hydantoinase, hydropyrimidine hydrase, hydantoin peptidase, pyrimidine hydrase, and D-hydantoinase. This enzyme participates in 3 metabolic pathways: pyrimidine metabolism, beta-alanine metabolism, and pantothenate and coa biosynthesis.