Editing Uridine triphosphate (section)

==Role in metabolism==
UTP also has the role of a source of energy or an activator of substrates in metabolic reactions, like that of [[Adenosine Triphosphate|ATP]], but more specific. When UTP activates a substrate (such as glucose-1-phosphate), UDP-glucose is formed and inorganic phosphate is released.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Rodwell|first=Victor|title=Harper's illustrated Biochemistry|publisher=McGraw-Hill|year=2015|isbn=978-0-07-182537-5|location=USA|pages=176}}</ref>  
[[UDP-glucose]] enters the synthesis of [[glycogen]]. UTP is used in the metabolism of [[galactose]], where the activated form [[UDP-galactose]] is converted to UDP-glucose. [[UDP-glucuronate]] is used to conjugate [[bilirubin]] to a more water-soluble [[bilirubin diglucuronide]]. UTP is also used to activate amino sugars like glucosamine-1-phosphate to UDP-glucosamine, and ''N''-acetyl-glucosamine-1-phosphate to UDP-''N''-acetylglucosamine.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Rodwell|first=Victor|title=Harper's illustrated biochemistry, 13th edition|publisher=McGraw-Hill|year=2015|isbn=978-0-07-182537-5|location=USA|pages=204}}</ref>