Interaction of uricine with uric acid and its effect on uric acid precipitation.

Uricine is a yellow-red pigment isolated from uric acid stones where it is always found. It binds to the uric acid, as shown by gel chromatography, at constant uric acid elution. It also increases the capacity of the uric acid to form larger aggregates and therefore the capacity of the uric acid to precipitate is enhanced. The uric acid-uricine aggregates may be separated by high speed sucrose centrifugation gradients.