Uricotelism, Biology

Assignment Help:

Uricotelism

In animals which inhabit extremely arid environments, ammonia is converted into  uric acid. Uric acid is least toxic, relatively insoluble and is easily precipitated. Hence, it can be excreted in solid form without loss of substantial amount of water. Pulmonate snails, terrestrial insects, squamate reptiles (lizards and snakes) and birds excrete a major portion of their waste nitrogen in the form of semi-solid or solid uric acid and hence are referred to as uricotelic animals.

1807_Uricotelism.png

Figure: Uric Acid

The synthesis of uric acid from ammonia in these animals occurs by the inosinic acid pathway. This pathway was first elucidated by Buchanan and his co- workers in the 1950s in pigeon liver. Uric acid is a member of the purines. While the details of the pathway are beyond the scope of this unit, in Figure the different fragments from which the uric acid molecule is assembled is shown. The dashed lines which divide the uric acid molecule in the Figure indicate the building blocks from which its biosynthesis takes place.


Related Discussions:- Uricotelism

Pennetula, Characters of pennetula

Characters of pennetula

Can you define factor viii, Q. What is factor VIII? What is the genetic dis...

Q. What is factor VIII? What is the genetic disease in which this factor is absent? Factor VIII has the function of activating factor X that in its turn is necessary for the tr

Population and sigmoid curve, Name two possible why the number of live bact...

Name two possible why the number of live bacteria cell have reached the stationary growth by 60hrs and start to die off after 12hrs?

Biochemical, Explain the salient features biochemical origin of life.

Explain the salient features biochemical origin of life.

Show the major human diseases caused by fungi, Q. What are the major human ...

Q. What are the major human diseases caused by fungi? The main human diseases caused by fungi are paracoccidioidomycosis, histoplasmosis, blastomycosis, coccidioidomycosis, or

Meal planning and nutrient needs of fast-growing infants, Define meal plann...

Define meal planning and nutrient needs of fast-growing infants? We just got to know the meal planning and nutrient needs of fast-growing infants and preschoolers in the previo

What does vacuoles do, What does vacuoles do? It is an organelle, locat...

What does vacuoles do? It is an organelle, located in the cell's cytoplasm, which is the site of protein synthesis. It is really a protein having of 2 parts. These 2 "parts"

What is the structural formula of glycerol, What is the structural formula ...

What is the structural formula of glycerol? To which organic function do these molecules belong? Glycerol is a linear chain of 3 carbons; the central carbon is bound to one hyd

Explain the amphibian heart and the reptile heart, What is the difference b...

What is the difference between the amphibian heart and the reptile heart? The reptiles have double and incomplete circulation too, three heart chambers (two atria and one ventr

Effect of single base pair mutation on the cftr protein, Cystic fibrosis (C...

Cystic fibrosis (CF) is caused by a variety of mutations in the CFTR gene. Imagine you have identified a new single-base pair mutation (A→T) in an exon of the CFTR gene. You wish t

Write Your Message!

Captcha
Free Assignment Quote

Assured A++ Grade

Get guaranteed satisfaction & time on delivery in every assignment order you paid with us! We ensure premium quality solution document along with free turntin report!

All rights reserved! Copyrights ©2019-2020 ExpertsMind IT Educational Pvt Ltd