Xanthopterin
Encyclopedia
Xanthopterin is a yellow, crystalline solid
, that occurs mainly in the wings of butterflies
and in the urine of mammal
s. Small microorganisms convert it into folic acid
. It is the end product of a non-conjugated pteridine
compound, and inhibits the growth of lymphocytes produced by concanovalin. High levels of the chemical were found in patients with liver disease and hemolysis, the latter increasing levels by 35%.
It has been suggested that the Oriental hornet
uses xanthopterin as a light harvesting molecule to transform light into electrical energy, which may explain why the insects are more active when light intensity is greater. Although no explicit biochemical mechanism has been determined for this animal light to energy conversion system, it remains an active and important area of scientific research (Plotkin et al., Naturwissenschaften (2010) 97:1067–1076).
Solid
Solid is one of the three classical states of matter . It is characterized by structural rigidity and resistance to changes of shape or volume. Unlike a liquid, a solid object does not flow to take on the shape of its container, nor does it expand to fill the entire volume available to it like a...
, that occurs mainly in the wings of butterflies
Butterfly
A butterfly is a mainly day-flying insect of the order Lepidoptera, which includes the butterflies and moths. Like other holometabolous insects, the butterfly's life cycle consists of four parts: egg, larva, pupa and adult. Most species are diurnal. Butterflies have large, often brightly coloured...
and in the urine of mammal
Mammal
Mammals are members of a class of air-breathing vertebrate animals characterised by the possession of endothermy, hair, three middle ear bones, and mammary glands functional in mothers with young...
s. Small microorganisms convert it into folic acid
Folic acid
Folic acid and folate , as well as pteroyl-L-glutamic acid, pteroyl-L-glutamate, and pteroylmonoglutamic acid are forms of the water-soluble vitamin B9...
. It is the end product of a non-conjugated pteridine
Pteridine
Pteridine is a chemical compound composed of fused pyrimidine and pyrazine rings. A pteridine is also a group of heterocyclic compounds containing a wide variety of substitutions on this structure. Pterins and flavins are classes of substituted pteridines that have important biological...
compound, and inhibits the growth of lymphocytes produced by concanovalin. High levels of the chemical were found in patients with liver disease and hemolysis, the latter increasing levels by 35%.
It has been suggested that the Oriental hornet
Oriental hornet
The Oriental hornet Vespa orientalis, is a hornet which looks very similar to the European hornet. It should not be confused with the Asian giant hornet ....
uses xanthopterin as a light harvesting molecule to transform light into electrical energy, which may explain why the insects are more active when light intensity is greater. Although no explicit biochemical mechanism has been determined for this animal light to energy conversion system, it remains an active and important area of scientific research (Plotkin et al., Naturwissenschaften (2010) 97:1067–1076).