UTP

UTP most commonly refers to unshielded twisted pair, a type of copper electrical cable used for telephone and data networks. It consists of pairs of insulated copper wires twisted together to reduce electromagnetic interference. UTP cables are inexpensive and flexible, and they do not include shielding around the pairs, unlike shielded twisted pair (STP) cables. Cables are categorized by performance standards such as Cat3, Cat5e, Cat6, Cat6a, and newer categories, with higher numbers supporting higher data rates and bandwidth. Typical Ethernet installations use RJ-45 connectors. In practical use, UTP cabling supports speeds from 10 Mbps up to 10 Gbps depending on category, with a maximum recommended length of 100 meters between devices. UTP remains widely used in homes and offices due to cost, simplicity, and compatibility, though it is more susceptible to crosstalk and interference than shielded or fiber alternatives.

UTP also abbreviates uridine triphosphate, a ribonucleoside triphosphate with the structure consisting of a ribose sugar, the base uracil, and three phosphate groups. It serves as an essential building block for RNA synthesis, being incorporated by RNA polymerases during transcription. In metabolism, UTP acts as an energy donor for the activation of carbohydrates, forming UDP-sugars such as UDP-glucose; this reaction is catalyzed by UDP-glucose pyrophosphorylase and is important for glycoconjugate and polysaccharide synthesis. Like other nucleoside triphosphates, UTP is interconverted with its diphosphate and monophosphate forms through cellular kinases, maintaining nucleotide pools for nucleic acid synthesis and metabolism.