94 THE CLEAVAGE-PRODUCTS OF THE NUCLEOPROTEIDS. 



By combining with glycocoll they give rise to the formation of 

 hippuric acid and phenaceturic acid, respectively. In the first in- 

 stance benzoic acid is probably formed as an intermediary body, 

 which then unites with glycocoll, as shown in the equations below : 



(1) C 6 H..CH 2 .CH 2 .COOH + 6O = C 6 H 5 .COOH + 2CO 2 + 2H 2 O 



Phenyl-propionic Benzoic acid. 



acid. 



(2) C 6 H 5 .COOH + CH 2 (NH 2 ).COOH = C 6 H 5 .Cq.CH 2 .NH.COOH + H 2 O 

 Benzoic acid. Glycocoll. Hippuric acid. 



and 



C 6 HLCH 2 .COOH + CH 2 (NH 2 ).COOH = C 6 H 5 .CH 2 .CO.NH.CH 3 .COOH -f H 2 O 

 Phenyl-acetic Phenaceturic acid. 



acid. 



The phenyl-acetic acid is no doubt derived from phenyl-alanin, 

 just as para-oxyphenyl acetic acid results from ty rosin. 



(1 ) C 6 H 5 . CH 2 . CH. NH 2 . COOH + 2H = C 6 H 5 . CH 2 . CH 2 . COOH -f NH 3 

 Phenyl-alanin. Phenyl-propionic acid. 



(2) C 6 H 5 .CH 2 .CH 2 .COOH + 3O = C 6 H 5 .CH 2 .COOH + CO 2 + H 2 O 

 Phenyl-propionic acid. Phenyl-acetic acid. 



THE CLEAVAGE-PEODUCTS OF THE NUCLEOPROTEIDS. 

 THE NUCLEINIC ACIDS. 



The nucleinic acids are specific decomposition-^products of the 

 nucleins (viz., nucleoproteids), and are characterized by the fact 

 that on hydrolysis with certain mineral acids they yield phosphoric 

 acid, purin bases, and frequently also pyrimidin derivatives. All 

 nucleinic acids also contain at least one carbohydrate group. 



Different nucleinic acids exist, which show a somewhat different 

 composition according to the nucleoproteids from which they are 

 derived. According to their origin, they are termed : spermato- 

 nucleinic acid, thymonucleinic acid, triticonucleinic acid, yeast 

 nucleinic acid, etc. Such as they are obtained from the tissues the 

 nucleinic acids possibly represent mixtures of different nucleinic 

 acids of a simpler order. Neumann has pointed out that on treating 

 the nucleoproteid of the thymus, spleen, pancreas, and the testicles 

 of the ox, with caustic alkali, a nucleinic acid-a results, which is 

 characterized by the fact that it gelatinizes in 5 per cent, or in 

 stronger solution. This nncleinic acid-a apparently represents the 

 native acid. On further treatment with caustic alkali it passes over 

 into the nucleinic acid- ft through a process of depolymerization. 

 This second acid does not gelatinize, and is more readily soluble 

 than the a form. During this transformation two-thirds of the 

 nucleinic bases are split off. Elementary analysis of the two forms 

 (obtained from the thymus) has given the following results : 



(C 41 H 74 N 14 26 P 4 ) 

 C^H 



