This enzyme is involved in nucleotide metabolism: it produces dUMP, the immediate precursor of thymidine nucleotides and it decreases the intracellular concentration of dUTP so that uracil cannot be incorporated into DNA. It does probably not deaminate dCTP. dUTP + H2O = diphosphate + dUMP + H(+) Pyrimidine metabolism; dUMP biosynthesis; dUMP from dCTP (dUTP route): step 1/2. Belongs to the dUTPase family.