Editing Uracil (section)

==Uses==
Uracil's use in the body is to help carry out the synthesis of many enzymes necessary for cell function through bonding with riboses and phosphates.<ref name="Garrett1"/> Uracil serves as [[allosteric]] regulator and [[coenzyme]] for reactions in animals and in plants.<ref name = "Brown2"/> UMP controls the activity of [[carbamoyl phosphate synthetase]] and [[aspartate transcarbamoylase]] in plants, while UDP and UTP regulate [[CPSase II]] activity in [[animal]]s. UDP-glucose regulates the conversion of [[glucose]] to [[galactose]] in the [[liver]] and other tissues in the process of [[carbohydrate metabolism]].<ref name="Brown2"/> Uracil is also involved in the [[biosynthesis]] of [[polysaccharides]] and the transportation of sugars containing [[aldehydes]].<ref name="Brown2">{{cite book|title=Ring Nitrogen and Key Biomolecules: The biochemistry of ''N''-heterocycles|publisher=Lluwer Academic Publishers|year=1998|isbn=9780412835704|veditors=Brown EG|location=Boston, MA|doi=10.1007/978-94-011-4906-8| vauthors = Brown EG |s2cid=9708198}}</ref> Uracil is important for the detoxification of many [[carcinogen]]s, for instance those found in tobacco smoke.<ref name="Olson">{{cite journal | vauthors = Olson KC, Sun D, Chen G, Sharma AK, Amin S, Ropson IJ, Spratt TE, Lazarus P | display-authors = 6 | title = Characterization of dibenzo[a,l]pyrene-trans-11,12-diol (dibenzo[def,p]chrysene) glucuronidation by UDP-glucuronosyltransferases | journal = Chemical Research in Toxicology | volume = 24 | issue = 9 | pages = 1549–1559 | date = September 2011 | pmid = 21780761 | pmc = 3177992 | doi = 10.1021/tx200178v }}</ref> Uracil is also required to detoxify many drugs such as cannabinoids (THC)<ref name="Mazur">{{cite journal | vauthors = Mazur A, Lichti CF, Prather PL, Zielinska AK, Bratton SM, Gallus-Zawada A, Finel M, Miller GP, Radomińska-Pandya A, Moran JH | display-authors = 6 | title = Characterization of human hepatic and extrahepatic UDP-glucuronosyltransferase enzymes involved in the metabolism of classic cannabinoids | journal = Drug Metabolism and Disposition | volume = 37 | issue = 7 | pages = 1496–1504 | date = July 2009 | pmid = 19339377 | pmc = 2698943 | doi = 10.1124/dmd.109.026898 }}</ref> and morphine (opioids).<ref name="DeGregori">{{cite journal | vauthors = De Gregori S, De Gregori M, Ranzani GN, Allegri M, Minella C, Regazzi M | title = Morphine metabolism, transport and brain disposition | journal = Metabolic Brain Disease | volume = 27 | issue = 1 | pages = 1–5 | date = March 2012 | pmid = 22193538 | pmc = 3276770 | doi = 10.1007/s11011-011-9274-6 }}</ref> It can also slightly increase the risk for cancer in unusual cases in which the body is extremely deficient in [[folate]].<ref name = "Mashiyama1"/> The deficiency in folate leads to increased ratio of [[deoxyuridine monophosphate]]s (dUMP)/[[deoxythymidine monophosphate]]s (dTMP) and uracil misincorporation into DNA and eventually low production of DNA.<ref name="Mashiyama1">{{cite journal | vauthors = Mashiyama ST, Courtemanche C, Elson-Schwab I, Crott J, Lee BL, Ong CN, Fenech M, Ames BN | display-authors = 6 | title = Uracil in DNA, determined by an improved assay, is increased when deoxynucleosides are added to folate-deficient cultured human lymphocytes | journal = Analytical Biochemistry | volume = 330 | issue = 1 | pages = 58–69 | date = July 2004 | pmid = 15183762 | doi = 10.1016/j.ab.2004.03.065 }}</ref>

Uracil can be used for [[drug delivery]] and as a [[pharmaceutical]]. When elemental [[fluorine]] reacts with uracil, they produce [[5-fluorouracil]]. 5-Fluorouracil is an anticancer drug ([[antimetabolite]]) used to masquerade as uracil during the nucleic acid replication process.<ref name="Garrett1"/> Because 5-fluorouracil is similar in shape to, but does not undergo the same chemistry as, uracil, the drug inhibits [[RNA]] transcription enzymes, thereby blocking RNA synthesis and stopping the growth of cancerous cells.<ref name="Garrett1"/> Uracil can also be used in the synthesis of caffeine.<ref>{{cite journal|vauthors=Zajac MA, Zakrzewski AG, Kowal MG, Narayan S|date=2003|title=A novel method of caffeine synthesis from uracil|journal=Synthetic Communications|volume=33|issue=19|pages=3291–3297|doi=10.1081/SCC-120023986|s2cid=43220488}}</ref> Uracil has also shown potential as a HIV viral capsid inhibitor.<ref>{{cite journal | vauthors = Ramesh D, Mohanty AK, De A, Vijayakumar BG, Sethumadhavan A, Muthuvel SK, Mani M, Kannan T | display-authors = 6 | title = Uracil derivatives as HIV-1 capsid protein inhibitors: design, ''in silico'', ''in vitro'' and cytotoxicity studies | journal = RSC Advances | volume = 12 | issue = 27 | pages = 17466–17480 | date = June 2022 | pmid = 35765450 | pmc = 9190787 | doi = 10.1039/D2RA02450K | bibcode = 2022RSCAd..1217466R }}</ref> Uracil derivatives have antiviral, anti-tubercular and anti-leishmanial activity.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Ramesh |first1=Deepthi |last2=Vijayakumar |first2=Balaji Gowrivel |last3=Kannan |first3=Tharanikkarasu |date=2021-05-06 |title=Advances in Nucleoside and Nucleotide Analogues in Tackling Human Immunodeficiency Virus and Hepatitis Virus Infections |url=https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/cmdc.202000849 |journal=ChemMedChem |language=en |volume=16 |issue=9 |pages=1403–1419 |doi=10.1002/cmdc.202000849 |pmid=33427377 |s2cid=231576801 |issn=1860-7179}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Ramesh |first1=Deepthi |last2=Vijayakumar |first2=Balaji Gowrivel |last3=Kannan |first3=Tharanikkarasu |date=2020-12-01 |title=Therapeutic potential of uracil and its derivatives in countering pathogenic and physiological disorders |url=https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S022352342030773X |journal=European Journal of Medicinal Chemistry |language=en |volume=207 |pages=112801 |doi=10.1016/j.ejmech.2020.112801 |pmid=32927231 |s2cid=221724578 |issn=0223-5234}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal | vauthors = Ramesh D, Sarkar D, Joji A, Singh M, Mohanty AK, G Vijayakumar B, Chatterjee M, Sriram D, Muthuvel SK, Kannan T | display-authors = 6 | title = First-in-class pyrido[2,3-d]pyrimidine-2,4(1H,3H)-diones against leishmaniasis and tuberculosis: Rationale, in vitro, ex vivo studies and mechanistic insights | journal = Archiv der Pharmazie | volume = 355 | issue = 4 | pages = e2100440 | date = April 2022 | pmid = 35106845 | doi = 10.1002/ardp.202100440 | s2cid = 246474821 }}</ref>

Uracil can be used to determine [[microbial]] contamination of [[tomato]]es. The presence of uracil indicates [[lactic acid]] [[bacteria]] contamination of the fruit.<ref>{{cite journal | vauthors = Hidalgo A, Pompei C, Galli A, Cazzola S | title = Uracil as an index of lactic acid bacteria contamination of tomato products | journal = Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry | volume = 53 | issue = 2 | pages = 349–355 | date = January 2005 | pmid = 15656671 | doi = 10.1021/jf0486489 | bibcode = 2005JAFC...53..349H }}</ref> Uracil derivatives containing a [[diazine]] ring are used in [[pesticide]]s.<ref name = "Pozharskii1"/> Uracil derivatives are more often used as [[antiphotosynthesis|antiphotosynthetic]] [[herbicide]]s, destroying weeds in [[cotton]], [[sugar beet]], [[turnip]]s, [[soybean|soya]], [[pea]]s, [[sunflower]] crops, [[vineyard]]s, [[berry]] plantations, and [[orchard]]s.<ref name="Pozharskii1">{{cite book|title=Heterocycles in Life and Society: An introduction to heterocyclic chemistry and biochemistry and the role of heterocycles in science, technology, medicine, and agriculture|vauthors=Pozharskii AF, Soldatenkov AT, Katritzky AR|publisher=John Wiley and Sons|year=1997|isbn=9780471960348|location=New York, NY}}</ref> Uracil derivatives can enhance the activity of antimicrobial [[Polysaccharide|polysaccharides]] such as [[chitosan]].<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Vijayakumar |first1=Balaji Gowrivel |last2=Ramesh |first2=Deepthi |last3=Manikandan |first3=K. Santhosh |last4=Theresa |first4=Mary |last5=Sethumadhavan |first5=Aiswarya |last6=Priyadarisini |first6=V. Brindha |last7=Radhakrishnan |first7=E. K. |last8=Mani |first8=Maheswaran |last9=Kannan |first9=Tharanikkarasu |date=2022-06-01 |title=Chitosan with pendant (E)-5-((4-acetylphenyl)diazenyl)-6-aminouracil groups as synergetic antimicrobial agents |url=https://pubs.rsc.org/en/content/articlelanding/2022/tb/d2tb00240j |journal=Journal of Materials Chemistry B |language=en |volume=10 |issue=21 |pages=4048–4058 |doi=10.1039/D2TB00240J |pmid=35507973 |s2cid=248526212 |issn=2050-7518}}</ref>

In [[yeast]], uracil concentrations are inversely proportional to uracil permease.<ref>{{cite journal | vauthors = Séron K, Blondel MO, Haguenauer-Tsapis R, Volland C | title = Uracil-induced down-regulation of the yeast uracil permease | journal = Journal of Bacteriology | volume = 181 | issue = 6 | pages = 1793–1800 | date = March 1999 | pmid = 10074071 | pmc = 93577 | doi = 10.1128/JB.181.6.1793-1800.1999 }}</ref>

Mixtures containing uracil are also commonly used to test [[Reversed-phase chromatography|reversed-phase]] [[High-performance liquid chromatography|HPLC]] columns. As uracil is essentially unretained by the non-polar stationary phase, this can be used to determine the dwell time (and subsequently dwell volume, given a known flow rate) of the system.