The evolutionary loss of hepatic urate oxidase (uricase) has resulted in humans with
elevated serum uric acid (urate). Uricase loss may have been beneficial to early primate
survival. However, an elevated serum urate has predisposed man to hyperuricemia, a
metabolic disturbance leading to gout, hypertension, and various cardiovascular diseases.
Human serum urate levels are largely determined by urate reabsorption and secretion in the
kidney. Renal urate reabsorption is controlled via two proximal tubular urate transporters …