Skip to main content

Thank you for visiting nature.com. You are using a browser version with limited support for CSS. To obtain the best experience, we recommend you use a more up to date browser (or turn off compatibility mode in Internet Explorer). In the meantime, to ensure continued support, we are displaying the site without styles and JavaScript.

  • Letter
  • Published:

Influence of Folic Acid on Xanthine Oxidation in vitro

An Erratum to this article was published on 17 March 1951

Abstract

AN inverse relationship between liver xanthine oxidase and dietary folic acid has been demonstrated in the chick1,2. Similar effects are reported for D-amino-acid oxidase activity2,3 and in glycine metabolism4. Since hydrogen peroxide, a product resulting from oxidations involving flavo-protein enzymes, is known to bring about destruction of hæmoglobin5, these observations have been interpreted to mean that an excessively rapid rate of such oxidations may contribute to the breakdown of haæmoglobin or hæm-containing enzymes in vivo and thus explain a biochemical change in folic acid deficiency1. However, recent reports would suggest that folic acid may not have a direct influence on catalase activity2 or on liver xanthine oxidase in the rat6. Furthermore, earlier observations on the in vitro inhibition by folic acid of xanthopterin oxidase activity have now been ascribed to an aldehyde impurity which is a primary photo-fission product of the vitamin7.

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution

Access options

Rent or buy this article

Prices vary by article type

from$1.95

to$39.95

Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Keith, C. K., Broach, W. J., Warren, D., Day, P. L., and Totter, J. R., J. Biol. Chem., 176, 1095 (1948).

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  2. Williams, jun., J. N., Nichol, C. A., and Elvehjem, C. A., J. Biol. Chem., 180, 689 (1949).

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. Kelly, B., Day, P. L., and Totter, J. E., J. Biol. Chem., 182, 591 (1950).

    Google Scholar 

  4. Totter, J. R., Amos, E. S., and Keith, C. K., J. Biol. Chem., 178, 847 (1949).

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  5. Garnick, S., and Gilder, H., “Adv. Enzymol.”, 7, 305 (1947).

    Google Scholar 

  6. Westerfield, W. W., and Richert, D. A., J. Biol. Chem., 184, 163 (1950).

    Google Scholar 

  7. Kalckar, H. M., Kjeldgaard, N. O., and Klenow, H., J. Biol. Chem., 172, 349, 351 (1948); 174, 771 (1948). Lowry, O. H., Bessey, O. A., and Crawford, E. J., J. Biol. Chem., 180, 389 (1949).

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  8. Umbreit, W. W., Burris, R. H., and Stauffer, J. F., “Manometric Techniques”, 152 (Burgess Publishing Co., Minneapolis, 1946).

    Google Scholar 

  9. Williams, jun., J. N., and Elvehjem, C. A., Proc. Soc. Exp. Biol. and Med., 71, 303 (1949). Petering, H. G., and Schmitt, J. A., J. Amer. Chem. Soc., 72, 2995 (1950).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. Williams, jun., J. N., J. Biol. Chem., 184, 627 (1950).

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  11. Broquist, H. P., Stokstad, E. L. R., and Jukes, T. H., J. Biol. Chem., 185, 399 (1950).

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

FATTERPAKER, P., SREENIVASAN, A. Influence of Folic Acid on Xanthine Oxidation in vitro. Nature 167, 149–150 (1951). https://doi.org/10.1038/167149b0

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/167149b0

Comments

By submitting a comment you agree to abide by our Terms and Community Guidelines. If you find something abusive or that does not comply with our terms or guidelines please flag it as inappropriate.

Search

Quick links

Nature Briefing

Sign up for the Nature Briefing newsletter — what matters in science, free to your inbox daily.

Get the most important science stories of the day, free in your inbox. Sign up for Nature Briefing