Definition for Uridine triphosphate
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The nucleotide (nucleoside triphosphate) that is the triphosphoryl ester of the 5'-hydroxyl group of uridine. UTP is, like other nucleoside triphosphates (see ATP), a source of metabolic energy in the form of a relatively large phosphoryl transfer potential. UTP is used therefore to activate sugars for biosynthetic reactions, notably those leading to synthesis of polysaccharides such as glycogen and the disaccharide sucrose. (See also entry for UDP-glucose).
