Separation of Uric Acid from Proteins in Human Saliva by Gel Filtration

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Abstract
Millin and Smith (Biochim. Biophys. Acta (Amst.), 62: 450-55, 1962) reported that the proteins of human saliva could be separated into two groups by filtration through a column of G25 Sephadex. They attempted to detect proteins in the eluate on the basis of optical density determinations at 280 m[mu]. However, when we attempted to duplicate their procedure, qualitative tests on samples from the second absorption peak revealed the absence of protein but the presence of uric acid. The second absorption peak had an absorption spectrum similar to uric acid and incubation of saliva with uricase prior to passage through the column almost entirely removed the second absorption peak. These results suggest that the proteins of saliva cannot be separated by passage through G25 Sephadex but that the proteins can be separated from salivary uric acid.