90 THE CLEAVAGE-PRODUCTS OF THE ALBUMINS. 



According to Gulewitch, it results from carnosin together with 

 alanin, according to the equation : 



C 9 H U N 4 3 + H 3 = C 6 H 9 N 3 2 + C,H 7 NO 2 . 



It gives the biuret reaction at first a violet color, which grad- 

 ually changes to red. 



III. THE ORGANIC NON-NITROGENOUS DERIVATIVES. 



The organic non-nitrogenous acids which are formed in the animal 

 body are largely members of the fatty acid series. Others belong to 

 the gly colic series, still others to the acrylic series, some are repre- 

 sentatives of the oxalic series, and still others belong to the aromatic 

 oxy-acids. The fatty group comprises the following acids, which as 

 a class may be represented by the formula C n H 2n O 2 : 



Formic acid H.COOH = CH 2 O 2 



Acetic acid CH 3 .COOH = C 2 H 4 O 2 



Propionic acid CH 2 .CH V COOH = C 3 H 6 O 2 



Butyric acid (CH 2 ) 2 .CH a .COOH = C 4 H 8 O 2 



Valerianic acid (CH 2 ) 3 .CH 3 .COOH = C 5 H 10 O 2 



Capronicacid (CH 2 ) 4 .CH 3 .COOH = C 6 H, 2 O 2 



Palmitic acid (CH 2 ) 14 .CH 3 .COOH = C 16 H 32 O 2 



Stearic acid (CH 2 ) 16 .CH 3 .COOH = C 18 H 36 O 2 



The two last, as has been seen, are integral constituents of the 

 fats, in which they are present in combination with glycerin as tri- 

 glycerides. From these the others may in part be derived, but to 

 the greatest extent no doubt they result from the amido-acids 

 through a process of oxidation or reduction, as illustrated by the 

 equations : 



CH 2 (NH 2 ).COOH + 2O = H.COOH + NH 3 -f CO 2 

 Glycocoll. Formic 



acid. 



CH 2 (NH 2 ).COOH + 2H = CH,.COOH -f NH 3 

 Glycocoll. Acetic acid. 



Through further oxidation these acids can be transformed into 

 those standing next in order in the downward scale, and so on, until 

 finally carbon dioxide and water result, as seen in the equations : 



(1) CH 2 .CH :{ .COOH + 30 = CH 3 .COOH + CO 2 + H 2 O 



Propionic acid. Acetic acid. 



(2) CH 3 .COOH +3O = H.COOH -f CO 2 -f H 2 O 



Acetic acid. Formic 



acid. 



(3) H.COOH + O = C0 2 -f H 2 

 Formic acid. 



To some extent the fatty acids are derived also from lactic acid 

 and related acids. The transformation of these into fatty acids is 

 probably analogous to the production of butyric acid during the 

 process of butyric acid fermentation. 



2C 3 H ? 3 = C 4 H 8 2 + 2C0 2 + 4H 

 Lactic Butyric 

 acid. acid. 



