DHODH Human

Dihydroorotate dehydrogenase (DHODH) is a crucial enzyme in the de novo synthesis pathway of pyrimidine nucleotides, which are essential for the synthesis of DNA and RNA. This enzyme is particularly significant in rapidly proliferating cells, such as cancer cells, due to their high demand for nucleotides .

DHODH is a flavin-dependent enzyme located on the outer surface of the inner mitochondrial membrane . It catalyzes the oxidation of dihydroorotate to orotate, a key step in the pyrimidine biosynthesis pathway . The human DHODH enzyme is a monomeric protein that belongs to Class 2 of the DHODH family . It is ubiquitously expressed in most tissues .

Recombinant human DHODH is produced using E. coli expression systems. The recombinant protein typically includes an N-terminal His-tag to facilitate purification . The recombinant form retains the enzymatic activity of the native protein, making it useful for various research applications, including drug discovery and biochemical studies .

DHODH has emerged as a promising therapeutic target for several diseases. Initially, it was targeted for the treatment of non-neoplastic diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis and multiple sclerosis . More recently, DHODH inhibitors have shown potential in cancer therapy due to the enzyme’s role in nucleotide synthesis and mitochondrial function .

Recombinant human DHODH is widely used in research to study its role in cellular metabolism and disease. It is also employed in high-throughput screening assays to identify potential DHODH inhibitors . These inhibitors could serve as therapeutic agents for diseases characterized by rapid cell proliferation, such as cancer .