Uridine Cytidine Kinase 1 (UCK1)

Uridine/cytidine kinase-1 (EC 2.7.1.48) is a pyrimidine ribonucleoside kinase that catalyzes the phosphorylation of uridine and cytidine to form uridine monophosphate (UMP) and cytidine monophosphate (CMP) . By searching for sequences similar to mouse uridine/cytidine kinase, followed by PCR of a fetal brain cDNA library, Van Rompay et al. (2001) cloned UCK1. The deduced 277-amino acid protein has a calculated molecular mass of 31 kD. UCK1 shares 92% amino acid identity with mouse Uck1 and 72% similarity with human UCK2 . Northern blot analysis detected a 2.7-kb transcript in all tissues examined, with highest expression in liver, kidney, skeletal muscle, and heart. A 1.8-kb transcript was detected in skeletal muscle, heart, liver, and kidney.