Abstract:
Urate oxidase (urate: O2 oxidoreductase, E.G. 1.7.3.3.) is the enzyme responsible for the irreversible oxidation or uric acid to allantoin by molecular oxygen. It is therefore of key importance in the biological degredation of the purine skeleton.
DISTRIBUTION AND LOCALIZATION
Urate oxidase is present in all mammals with the exception of some primates (1). The enzyme does not occur in birds or reptiles, both of which excrete purines. The distribution of urate oxidase in other animals is irregular and does not conform to any known pattern (2,3) The presence of urate oxidase in plants has only recently been confirmed (4). The enzyme has been shown to be inducible in microorganisms such as yeast (Candida utilis) (5) and Aspergillus flavus (6).
