The synthesis of uric acid in the avian organism: hypoxanthine as an intermediary metabolite

Abstract

IT has been demonstrated that the co-operation of two organs, liver and kidney, is necessary for uric acid synthesis in pigeons [Krebs & Benzinger, 1933; Schuler & Reindel, 1933, 1, 2]. On this account it is possible to resolve the complex process into two parts which may be studied individually. In this paper it will be shown that the primary process is a ring synthesis, occurring in the liver and yielding hypoxanthine, which is then oxidised to uric acid by the kidney (or by certain other tissues) under the influence of xanthine oxidase. Thus in pigeons xanthine oxidase is a component of the system which synthesizes uric acid.