Uric acid in wood-eating termites

摘要: Abstract Uric acid (UA) was present in termites as assessed by paper and thin layer chromatography, U.V. spectroscopy, reactivity with uricase, gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry. Specimens of six species (Reticulitermes flavipes, R. virginicus, Coptotermes formosanus, Marginitermes hubbardi, Paraneotermes simplicicornis, Cryptotermes cavifrons) contained UA amounts accounting for between 1 45% the termites' dry weight 4 69% total nitrogen. Almost all flavipes associated fat body tissue. Faeces less than 0.2% its UA. During 15 months captivity, workers increased from 1.7% 45.4% insects' at a linear rate 2.7% per month. Elemental analyses during this period indicated that synthesis occurred, part, expense some endogenous nitrogen carbon. Compounds tentatively identified inosine kynurenic were also termite extracts. Results indicate can store large quantities internally, but they do not void purine significant despite lack detectable uricase activity tissues.