THE VEGETABLE BASES 163 



That this is probably a correct representation of the general 

 arrangement in this compound, is indicated by the fact that by 

 different methods of hydrolysis it is possible to split off either the 

 purine and pyrimidine bases, leaving a carbohydrate ester of 

 phosphoric acid; or the phosphoric acid, leaving carbohydrate 

 combinations with the nitrogenous bases. 



Nucleic acid, prepared from animal glands which contain large 

 proportions of it, is a white powder, which is insoluble in water, 

 but when moistened forms a slimy mass. It is almost insoluble 

 in alcohol, but dissolves readily in alkaline solutions, forming a 

 colloidal solution which readily gelatinizes (see chapter on Col- 

 loids). Solutions of nucleic acids are optically active, probably 

 because of the carbohydrate constituents. 



From their structure and properties, it is apparent that 

 nucleic acids are on the border line between carbohydrates, plant 

 amines, and proteins. They undoubtedly play an important 

 part, both in cell-growth and in the synthesis of proteins from car- 

 bohydrates and ammonium compounds. 



References 



BAKGEB, GEO. "The Simpler Natural Bases," 215 pages, Monographs on 



Biochemistry, London, 1914. 

 FISCHER, E. "Untersuchungen in der Puringruppe, 1882-1906," 608 pages, 



Berlin, 1907. 



HENRY, T. A. "The Plant Alkaloids," 466 pages, Philadelphia, 1913. 

 JONES, W. "The Nucleic Acids," 118 pages, Monographs on Biochemistry, 



London, 1914. 

 PICTET, A. "La Constitution Chimique des Alcaloides Vegetaux," 421 pages, 



Paris, 1897 (2d ed.). 

 VAUGHAN, V. C. and NOVY, F. G. "Ptomaines, Leucomaines, Toxins and 



Antitoxins," 604 pages, Philadelphia, 1896, (3d ed.). 

 WINTERSTEIN, E. and TRIER, G. "Die Alkaloide," 340 pages, Berlin, 1910. 



