Xanthine oxidase activity and immunologically detectable protein in the C57B1/6 mouse

1. Xanthine oxidase (XO) was purified from livers of C57B1/6 mice. Antibodies generated against the purified protein were used in an immunoassay to measure total XO protein. 2. Both the specific activity and amount of XO protein were greater in the proximal small intestine than in the liver. A pool of inactive enzyme was present in the small intestine which developed after weaning. 3. Male C57B1/6 mice had the same XO specific activity as females and neither the hepatic nor the intestinal XO activity were affected by the level of dietary protein. 4. When mice were fed diets with tungsten, XO activity was lost and the amount of XO protein in the small intestine was decreased.