Merck, U4375-100MG, Uridine 5′-diphospho-N-acetylglucosamine sodium salt

General description
Uridine 5′-diphospho-N-acetylglucosamine (UDP-GlcNAc) is a nucleotide sugar. It is synthesized from glucose via the hexosamine biosynthetic pathway (HBP). UDP-GlcNAc is transported actively into Golgi, nucleotide sugar transporter (NST). The levels of UDP-GlcNAc is modulated by the concentration of nutrients exposed to the cell.
Application
Uridine 5′-diphospho-N-acetylglucosamine (UDP-GlcNAc) sodium salt has been used:
as a component of reaction cocktail in endoplasmic reticulum to Golgi transport assay
as a reference standard for the quantification of UDP-GlcNAc in liver tissues using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC)
in testing the glycosylation activity of O-GlcNAc transferase (OGT) against peptide substrate

Biochem/physiol Actions
Uridine 5′-diphospho-N-acetylglucosamine (UDP-GlcNAc) is a sugar donor and aids in the endomembrane glycosylation of endoplasmic reticulum and Golgi. The decreased levels of UDP-GlcNAc has an influence on the normal cellular proliferation and apoptosis. UDP-GlcNAc elicits feedback inhibition of the enzyme glutamine:fructose-6-phosphate amidotransferase (GFAT).
Donor substrate for transfer of GlcNAc to the dolichol precursor in the synthesis of N-glycans. UDP-GlcNAc also functions as the source of GlcNAc attached to serine/threonine residues by O-GlcNAc transferase (OGT) in O-GlcNAc signaling.