Metabolites of nucleic acids in bovine milk.

To investigate metabolites of nucleic acids in milk as by-products of protein biosynthesis, a method for determination of pyrimidine and purine compounds by reversed-phase high-pressure liquid chromatography was developed. Reproducibility of the measured compounds was 2%. Recovery of the main constituents averaged about 99%. In addition to orotic acid, allantoin, and uric acid, the free bases hypoxanthine, xanthine, and guanine, the ribonucleosides uridine, cytidine, and pseudouridine, and the ribonucleotides, guanosine 5'-monophosphate and cytidine 5'-monophosphate, were quantified in milk samples of Holstein-Friesian cows. Milk production from days 45 to 65 of lactation influenced concentrations of individual metabolites differently. Concentrations of orotic acid, allantoin, and uric acid decreased with increasing milk production, whereas concentrations of uridine, cytidine, pseudouridine, hypoxanthine, xanthine, and guanine remained unchanged. The results allowed conclusions on rate limiting steps of catabolic pathways of pyrimidines and purines and indicated relationships with protein biosynthesis. A possible role of metabolites of nucleic acids as taste factors and as substrates for milk microbes is suggested.