Viral dUTPases, Recombinant Expression, Purification and Characterization
The enzyme deoxyuridine 5’-triphosphate nucleotidohydrolase (dUTPase, EC 3.6.1.23) catalyzes the hydrolysis of dUTP to dUMP and pyrophosphate. The reaction suppresses misincorporation of uracil into DNA and provides dUMP for the de novo synthesis of dTTP. dUTPase is a widespread enzyme and the fact that many viruses encode a dUTPase of their own suggests the enzyme to be important for the viral li