BIOSYNTHESIS OF URIC ACID LABELED WITH RADIOACTIVE CARBON

Abstract

Sonne, Buchanan, and Delluva (1,2) have recently identified some of the precursors of the carbon atoms of uric acid in the pigeon. We have had occasion to repeat and extend their experiments during an investigation of the suitability of the pigeon as an agent for the biosynthesis of uric acid labeled in various positions with C14. This paper presents data on the yields of several different kinds of labeled uric acid obtained after injecting suitably labeled precursors and also provides information on the r6le of the methylene carbon of glycine’ in the synthesis of uric acid.