Uricotelism

Introduction

For their survival, all living beings go through several physiological and biological processes. One of the most fundamental mechanisms for supplying nutrients and energy to cells is metabolism. All living organisms, however, produce new compounds called nitrogenous waste in the form of uric acid, urea, and ammonia as a result of this process.

Body 

• These nitrogenous wastes build up in the organs and body fluids such as blood, causing damage to the body’s natural processes. As a result, it is critical to get rid of these wastes
• Ammonotelism, ureotelism, aminotelism, and uricotelism are the four main types of waste disposal processes

The following information includes a full overview of uricotelism in physiology. 

Different Excretion Processes

As previously stated, most organisms eliminate bodily waste using one of four waste removal or excretion processes. Here is a tabular version of the list:

The Nitrogenous Waste Production Process

Proteins are polymers made up of several amino acids. Deaminase, an enzyme, removes the amino group from these amino acids throughout the metabolic process. Deamination is the name for this procedure.

Following deamination, the liberated amino groups convert to uric acid, urea, or ammonia, depending on the organism and the availability of water.

• The remaining amino acids can be stored as carbohydrates or utilised to generate energy via oxidation
• Purines (Adenine and Guanine) are degraded primarily in the liver, but also in the kidneys, to produce uric acid (C5H4N4O3). Purines are synthesised by excess nitrogen in the body of uricotelic animals. Purines are converted to xanthine, which is ultimately oxidised to uric acid in this process

Uricotelics

• Uricotelism is a nitrogenous waste elimination process in which nitrogenous wastes are excreted from the body as uric acid or urates (a salt of uric acid). Uric acid-removing organisms are known as uricotelic organisms
• Uric acid, as you may know, is not easily soluble in water. As a result, the uricotelism process requires less water. Therefore, this mechanism is observed in animals that live in arid environments or do not have continual access to water
• Uricotelism can be found in reptiles, insects, birds, kangaroo rats, and land snails, among other animals. Other mammals including humans, eliminate uric acid in modest amounts. In addition, they have some of the most frequent uric acid diseases

Disorder of Uric Acid Metabolism

Gout

Excess uric acid can build up in joints of the bone as a result of metabolic dysfunction. This can progress to gout, a painful form of arthritis.

Stone in the Kidney

Blockage occurs inside the kidney tubules due to the precipitation of uric acid crystals. Animals can suffer acute back and thigh discomfort in this condition. Patients may have painful micturition or blood in urine if the obstruction occurs at the level of the urinary bladder.

Conclusion 

Uricotelism is the phenomenon of uric acid excretion, and uricotelic animals are those that expel their nitrogenous wastes primarily in the form of uric acid. Most insects (e.g., cockroach), some land crustaceans (e.g., Oniscus, often known as “woodlouse”), land snails, land reptiles (e.g., lizards and snakes), and birds are uricotelic creatures. Uric acid is excreted by primates, including humans, as a result of the breakdown of nucleic acids in their bodies.