Topic summary
Thymidine phosphorylase
Thymidine phosphorylase (EC2.4.2.4) is an enzyme that is encoded by the TYMP gene and catalyzes several phosphorolysis reactions which convert pyrimidine nucleosides such as thymidine, into their corresponding nucleotide base, by cleavage of the 2-deoxy-α-D-ribose 1-phosphate sugar unit:
Thymidine phosphorylase is involved in purine metabolism, pyrimidine metabolism, and other metabolic pathways. Variations in thymidine phosphorylase and the TYMP gene that encode it are associated with mitochondrial neurogastrointestinal encephalopathy (MNGIE) syndrome and bladder cancer.