The effect of dietary protein on pyrimidine-metabolizing enzymes was studied in the rat. The activities of dihydropyrimidine dehydrogenase and beta-ureidopropionase in the livers of rats fed a protein-free diet were significantly decreased, while the activity of dihydropyrimidinase was unaffected. Protein deficiency (5%) also decreased the activity of beta-ureidopropionase. On the other hand, a high-protein diet (60%) increased the level of beta-ureidopropionase. The activities of beta-alanine-oxoglutarate aminotransferase (aminobutyrate aminotransferase) and D-3-aminoisobutyrate-pyruvate aminotransferase ((R)-3-amino-2-methylpropionate-pyruvate aminotransferase), which are present in mitochondria, depended on the amount of protein in the diet. Ammonium ions supplemented in the diet and given by injection did not affect the activities of rat liver pyrimidine-metabolizing enzymes (dihydropyrimidine dehydrogenase, dihydropyrimidinase, beta-ureidopropionase, beta-alanine-oxoglutarate aminotransferase and D-3-aminoisobutyrate-pyruvate aminotransferase). Dietary uridine resulted in the accumulation of uracil in the liver, but did not affect the activities of pyrimidine-metabolizing enzymes.