Uridine compounds in glucuronic acid metabolism. 1. The formation of glucuronides in liver suspensions

Abstract

Conditions are described for the study of glucuronide synthesis in liver suspensions. The synthesis could not be demonstrated unless a boiled extract of liver was also present. The active factor obtained from liver by boiling or by trichloroacetic acid extraction was destroyed by acid and alkali and by phosphate preparations. The effect of pH and certain other conditions upon the synthesis was studied. The enzymatic activity of the suspensions appeared to be located in the particulate material of the cell cytoplasm. The synthesis in suspensions is compared with that in liver slices, and the possible relationship of beta-glu-curonidase to the first-named process discussed.