Application

Uridine 5′-diphosphate disodium salt hydrate has been used:as a standard for quantification of metabolite levels in murine tumor interstitial fluid by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC/MS)as a UDP standard for nucleotide analysis by liquid chromatography-high resolution mass spectrometry (LC-HRMS)to treat E6.5 retina explants in vitro, to study its effect on the entry and elongation of microglial cells into the embryonic quail retina

Biochem/physiol Actions

Uridine 5′-diphosphate (UDP) is an endogenous signaling molecule produced by damaged cells to attract macrophages. In response to neuronal damage, UDP promotes chemotaxis and chemokinesis in microglial cells. UDP serves as a ligand for P2Y receptors. UDP and uridine 5′-triphosphate (UTP) may be used in studies on nucleic acid (RNA) biosynthesis and cell signaling. UDP is a nucleotide that upon phosphorylation to UTP becomes a substrate for enzymes such as RNA polymerase(s) and GTPases. These enzymes are involved in a wide range of applications from the synthesis of RNA to the regulation of G-coupled protein receptors (GPCR) and cell signaling molecules such as Rho-signaling via guanine nucleotide exchange factors (GEF).