Thymidine phosphorylase in nucleotide metabolism: physiological functions and its implications in tumorigenesis and anti-cancer therapy
Thymidine phosphorylase (TYMP), a protein found in both prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells, is encoded by a gene located in the q13 region of chromosome 22. With a relative molecular mass of 55,000, TYMP exists as a homodimer. Recent research has increasingly illuminated the diverse functions of TYMP....
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2025-04-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Immunology |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fimmu.2025.1561560/full |
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| author | Bo Huang Bo Huang Qihang Yuan Jiaao Sun Chao Wang Dong Yang |
| author_facet | Bo Huang Bo Huang Qihang Yuan Jiaao Sun Chao Wang Dong Yang |
| author_sort | Bo Huang |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Thymidine phosphorylase (TYMP), a protein found in both prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells, is encoded by a gene located in the q13 region of chromosome 22. With a relative molecular mass of 55,000, TYMP exists as a homodimer. Recent research has increasingly illuminated the diverse functions of TYMP. It is known to facilitate platelet activation, osteoclast differentiation, and angiogenesis. Mutations in the TYMP gene are linked to mitochondrial neurogastrointestinal encephalomyopathy. Beyond its physiological roles, TYMP contributes significantly to tumor growth and cancer progression, where it promotes angiogenesis, modulates epigenetic genes, inhibits apoptosis, and acts as a critical enzyme in the nucleoside metabolic rescue pathway. Moreover, TYMP holds substantial implications in cancer treatment and prognosis. Given its involvement in cancer progression, TYMP inhibitors may prove valuable in inhibiting tumor growth and metastasis. Interestingly, while TYMP can drive tumor growth, certain concentrations of TYMP also enhance the cytotoxic effects of chemotherapy drugs such as 5-fluorouracil (5-FU). Although challenges exist—such as the potential disruption of normal physiological functions when inhibiting TYMP—the protein remains a promising target for cancer treatment. Ongoing research on TYMP could deepen our understanding of human physiology and the pathogenesis of cancer and open new avenues for therapeutic interventions. This article provides a comprehensive review of TYMP’s structure, physiological functions, and its role in tumorigenesis and anti-tumor therapy. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-ea3ee37bcabe49ecada0c9450cae3f44 |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 1664-3224 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-04-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Immunology |
| spelling | doaj-art-ea3ee37bcabe49ecada0c9450cae3f442025-08-20T02:36:15ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Immunology1664-32242025-04-011610.3389/fimmu.2025.15615601561560Thymidine phosphorylase in nucleotide metabolism: physiological functions and its implications in tumorigenesis and anti-cancer therapyBo Huang0Bo Huang1Qihang Yuan2Jiaao Sun3Chao Wang4Dong Yang5Liaoning Cancer Hospital & Institute, Shenyang, ChinaFirst Affiliated Hospital of Dalian Medical University, Dalian, ChinaFirst Affiliated Hospital of Dalian Medical University, Dalian, ChinaFirst Affiliated Hospital of Dalian Medical University, Dalian, ChinaLiaoning Cancer Hospital & Institute, Shenyang, ChinaLiaoning Cancer Hospital & Institute, Shenyang, ChinaThymidine phosphorylase (TYMP), a protein found in both prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells, is encoded by a gene located in the q13 region of chromosome 22. With a relative molecular mass of 55,000, TYMP exists as a homodimer. Recent research has increasingly illuminated the diverse functions of TYMP. It is known to facilitate platelet activation, osteoclast differentiation, and angiogenesis. Mutations in the TYMP gene are linked to mitochondrial neurogastrointestinal encephalomyopathy. Beyond its physiological roles, TYMP contributes significantly to tumor growth and cancer progression, where it promotes angiogenesis, modulates epigenetic genes, inhibits apoptosis, and acts as a critical enzyme in the nucleoside metabolic rescue pathway. Moreover, TYMP holds substantial implications in cancer treatment and prognosis. Given its involvement in cancer progression, TYMP inhibitors may prove valuable in inhibiting tumor growth and metastasis. Interestingly, while TYMP can drive tumor growth, certain concentrations of TYMP also enhance the cytotoxic effects of chemotherapy drugs such as 5-fluorouracil (5-FU). Although challenges exist—such as the potential disruption of normal physiological functions when inhibiting TYMP—the protein remains a promising target for cancer treatment. Ongoing research on TYMP could deepen our understanding of human physiology and the pathogenesis of cancer and open new avenues for therapeutic interventions. This article provides a comprehensive review of TYMP’s structure, physiological functions, and its role in tumorigenesis and anti-tumor therapy.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fimmu.2025.1561560/fullnucleotide metabolismthymidine phosphorylasephysiological functionstumorigenesisanticancer therapy |
| spellingShingle | Bo Huang Bo Huang Qihang Yuan Jiaao Sun Chao Wang Dong Yang Thymidine phosphorylase in nucleotide metabolism: physiological functions and its implications in tumorigenesis and anti-cancer therapy Frontiers in Immunology nucleotide metabolism thymidine phosphorylase physiological functions tumorigenesis anticancer therapy |
| title | Thymidine phosphorylase in nucleotide metabolism: physiological functions and its implications in tumorigenesis and anti-cancer therapy |
| title_full | Thymidine phosphorylase in nucleotide metabolism: physiological functions and its implications in tumorigenesis and anti-cancer therapy |
| title_fullStr | Thymidine phosphorylase in nucleotide metabolism: physiological functions and its implications in tumorigenesis and anti-cancer therapy |
| title_full_unstemmed | Thymidine phosphorylase in nucleotide metabolism: physiological functions and its implications in tumorigenesis and anti-cancer therapy |
| title_short | Thymidine phosphorylase in nucleotide metabolism: physiological functions and its implications in tumorigenesis and anti-cancer therapy |
| title_sort | thymidine phosphorylase in nucleotide metabolism physiological functions and its implications in tumorigenesis and anti cancer therapy |
| topic | nucleotide metabolism thymidine phosphorylase physiological functions tumorigenesis anticancer therapy |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fimmu.2025.1561560/full |
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