Über die Aminosäuresynthese aus Ketosäure und die Harnstoffsynthese in der Leber.

Abstract

Liver sections (cat and guinea-pig) form urea and amino acids (a. a.) from pyruvic acid and NH3. In well-fed animals great amounts of keto acids result in a. a. and urea in like amount, so that one may speak of de-toxication of NH3 through formation of either. A. a. formation occurs at the expense of urea synthesis. In fasting animals urea and especially a. a. formation decreases. Ornithine acts as a regulator. The liver does not form a. a. from lactic acid; hydroxy acids are converted to a. a. only indirectly, through the keto acids. A. a. synthesis is dependent on cell structure but not on respiration; energy for synthesis must arise from other types of reactions. Probably small amts. of NH3 enter into some unknown reaction.