Dihydroorotic Acid Unit Converter

Dihydroorotic acid is an intermediate metabolite in the de novo pyrimidine biosynthesis pathway. Pyrimidines are essential building blocks for DNA and RNA, and your body produces them through a six-step enzymatic process.

Dihydroorotic acid is generated in the cytosol by the CAD enzyme complex and then transported to mitochondria, where the enzyme dihydroorotate dehydrogenase (DHODH) converts it into orotate. This conversion is directly coupled to the mitochondrial electron transport chain through ubiquinone (coenzyme Q10).

Measuring dihydroorotic acid can reveal disruptions in pyrimidine synthesis or mitochondrial function. It is most commonly tested in specialized metabolic panels or as a pharmacodynamic biomarker during treatment with DHODH-inhibiting medications.

Produced in virtually all nucleated cells as part of the de novo pyrimidine synthesis pathway. The trifunctional CAD enzyme complex in the cytosol generates dihydroorotate from carbamoyl aspartate, after which it is transported to the mitochondrial inner membrane for conversion by DHODH.