Phenylalanine-4-hydroxylase

In the case of hyperphenylalaninaemia, which occurs ia phenylketonuria because of a congenital absence of phenylalanine hydroxylase, the observed phenylalanine inhibition of proteia synthesis may result from competition between T.-phenylalanine and L-methionine for methionyl-/RNA. Patients sufferiag from maple symp urine disease, an inborn lack of branched chain oxo acid decarboxylase, are mentally retarded unless the condition is treated early enough. It is possible that the high level of branched-chain amino acids inhibits uptake of L-tryptophan and L-tyrosiae iato the brain. Brain iajury of mice within ten days after thek bkth was reported as a result of hypodermic kijections of monosodium glutamate (MSG) (0.5—4 g/kg). However, the FDA concluded that MSG is a safe kigredient, because mice are bom with underdeveloped brains regardless of MSG kijections (106). 

Qf-receptor blocking agent, 1, 176 Phenylalanine hydroxylase in tyrosine synthesis from phenylalanine, 1, 261 L-Phenylalanine hydroxylase mechanism, 1, 261 Phenyl azide formation... 

Pyrimidine-2,4-diamine, 5-(benzylamino)-6-hydroxy-as cofactor of phenylalanine hydroxylase, 1, 261 Pyrimidine-2,4-diamine, 5-ethoxy-synthesis, 3, 114... 

There are many excellent examples of experiments using isotopic labeling in both organic chemistry and biochemistry. An interesting example is the case of lydroxylation of the amino acid phenylalanine which is carried out by the enzyme phenylalanine hydroxylase. 

Tyrosine. Phenylalanine hydroxylase converts phenylalanine to tyrosine (Figure 28-10). Provided that the diet contains adequate nutritionally essential phenylalanine, tyrosine is nutritionally nonessential. But since the reaction is irreversible, dietary tyrosine cannot replace phenylalanine. Catalysis by this mixed-function oxygenase incorporates one atom of O2 into phenylalanine and reduces the other atom to water. Reducing power, provided as tetrahydrobiopterin, derives ultimately from NADPH. 

Figure28-10. The phenylalanine hydroxylase reaction. Two distinct enzymatic activities are involved. Activity II catalyzes reduction of dihydrobiopterin by NADPH, and activity I the reduction of O2 to HjO and of phenylalanine to tyrosine. This reaction is associated with several defects of phenylalanine metabolism discussed in Chapter 30.

Cysteine, tyrosine, and hydroxylysine are formed from nutritionally essential amino acids. Serine provides the carbon skeleton and homocysteine the sulfur for cysteine biosynthesis. Phenylalanine hydroxylase converts phenylalanine to tyrosine. 

Gjetting T et al A phenylalanine hydroxylase amino acid polymorphism with implications for molecular diagnostics. Mol Genet Metab 2001 73 280. 

Waters PJ, Scriver CR, Parniak MA Homomeric and heteromeric interactions between wild-type and mutant phenylalanine hydroxylase subunits evaluation of two-hybrid approaches for functional analysis of mutations causing hyperphenylalanine-mia. Mol Genet Metab 2001 73 230. 

The synthesis and metabolism of DA are very similar to that of NA, even when it functions as a NT in its own right. Although both phenylalanine and tyrosine are found in the brain it is tyrosine which is the starting point for NA and DA synthesis. It appears to be transported into the brain after synthesis from phenylalanine (phenylalanine hydroxylase) in the liver rather than from phenylalanine found in the brain. Despite the fact that the concentration of tyrosine in the brain is high (5 X 10 M) very little body tyrosine (1%) is used for the synthesis of DA and NA. 

Chen D, PA Frey (1998) Phenylalanine hydroxylase from Chromobacterium violaceum. Uncoupled oxidation of tetrahydropterin and the role of iron in hydroxylation. J Biol Chem 273 25594-25601. 

Song J, T Xia, RA Jensen (1999) PhhB, a Pseudomonas aeruginosa homolog of mammalian pterin 4a-carbi-nolamine dehydratase/DCcoH, does not regulate expression of phenylalanine hydroxylase at the transcriptional level. J Bacterial 181 2789-2796. 

Because LCEC had its initial impact in neurochemical analysis, it is not, surprising that many of the early enzyme-linked electrochemical methods are of neurologically important enzymes. Many of the enzymes involved in catecholamine metabolism have been determined by electrochemical means. Phenylalanine hydroxylase activity has been determined by el trochemicaUy monitoring the conversion of tetrahydro-biopterin to dihydrobiopterin Another monooxygenase, tyrosine hydroxylase, has been determined by detecting the DOPA produced by the enzymatic reaction Formation of DOPA has also been monitored electrochemically to determine the activity of L-aromatic amino acid decarboxylase Other enzymes involved in catecholamine metabolism which have been determined electrochemically include dopamine-p-hydroxylase phenylethanolamine-N-methyltransferase and catechol-O-methyltransferase . Electrochemical detection of DOPA has also been used to determine the activity of y-glutamyltranspeptidase The cytochrome P-450 enzyme system has been studied by observing the conversion of benzene to phenol and subsequently to hydroquinone and catechol... 

Phenylketonuria AR Phenylalanine hydroxylase White matter is up to 40% deficient in myelin hypomyelination may be caused by inhibition of amino acid transport and/or protein synthesis by the high level of phenylalanine that accumulates 1, Ch. 40... 

Phenylketonuria usually is caused by a congenital deficiency of phenylalanine hydroxylase 672... 

Rarely, phenylketonuria results from a defect in the metabolism of biopterin, a cofactor for the phenylalanine hydroxylase pathway 673... 

PKU) phenylalanine hydroxylase. In care cases, defect of biopterin metabolism (Fig. 40-3 reaction 1) children. Avoidable with early institution of diet therapy. Prognosis less favorable in PKU secondary to defect of biopterin metabolism Carbidopa... 

Distortion of the plasma aminogram in individuals with an aminoaciduria also may lead to a relative failure of brain protein synthesis. Thus, in mice with a deficiency of phenylalanine hydroxylase, the blood concentration of phenylalanine is more than 20 times greater than the control value, leading to partial saturation of the transport system and a diminution in the brain level of neutral amino acids other than phenylalanine. Rates of protein synthesis were concomitantly reduced [8]. 

Phenylketonuria usually is caused by a congenital deficiency of phenylalanine hydroxylase. Phenylketonuria (PKU) is among the more common aminoacidurias (-1 20,000 live births). The usual cause is a nearly complete deficiency of phenylalanine hydroxylase, which converts phenylalanine into tyrosine (Fig. 40-2 reaction 1). 

FIGURE 40-2 The phenylalanine hydroxylase (PAH) pathway. Phenylketonuria usually is caused by a congenital deficiency of PAH (reaction 1), but it also can result from defects in the metabolism of biopterin, which is a cofactor for the hydroxylase. Enzymes (1) Phenylalanine hydroxylase (2) Dihydropteridine reductase (3) GTP cyclohydrolase (4) 6-pyruvoyltetrahydrobiopterin synthase. BH4, tetrahydrobiopterin DEDT, o-erythro-dihydroneopterin triphosphate QH2, dihydrobiopterin. 

Rarely, phenylketonuria results from a defect in the metabolism of biopterin, a cofactor for the phenylalanine hydroxylase pathway. The electron donor for phenylalanine hydroxylase is tetrahydrobiopterin (BH4), which transfers electrons to molecular oxygen to form tyrosine and dihydrobiopterin (QH2 Fig. 40-2 reaction 2). BH4 is regenerated from QH2 in an NADH-dependent reaction that is catalyzed by dihydropteridine reductase (DHPR), which is widely distributed. In the brain, this... 

Patients sustain convulsions and neurological deterioration. The urine contains low levels of the metabolites of serotonin, norepinephrine and dopamine. The reductase also plays a role in the maintenance of tetrahydrofolate levels in brain, and some patients have had low folate levels in the serum and CNS. Treatment has been attempted with tryptophan and carbidopa to improve serotonin homeostasis and with folinic acid to replete diminished stores of reduced folic acid. This therapy is sometimes effective. Diagnosis involves assay of DHPR in skin fibroblasts or amniotic cells. Phenylalanine hydroxylase activity is normal. 

Guldberg, P., Levy, H. L., Hanley, W. B. et al. Phenylalanine hydroxylase gene mutations in the United States report from the Maternal PKU Collaborative Study. Am. J. Hum. Genet. 59 84-94,1996. 

Figure 13.21 Mononuclear non-haem iron enzymes from each of the five families in structures which are poised for attack by 02. (a) The extradiol-cleaving catechol dioxygenase, 2,3-dihydroxy-biphenyl 1,2-dioxygenase (b) the Rieske dioxygenase, naphthalene 1,2-dioxygenase (c) isopenicillin N-synthase (d) the ot-ketoglutarate dependent enzyme clavaminate synthase and (e) the pterin-dependent phenylalanine hydroxylase. (From Koehntop et al., 2005. With kind permission of Springer Science and Business Media.)...

Enzymes carry out almost all of Phenylalanine hydroxylase the thousands of chemical reactions that take place in cells. 

A much more serious genetic disease, first described by Foiling in 1934, is phenylketonuria. Here the disturbance in phenylalanine metabolism is due to an autosomal recessive deficiency in liver phenylalanine hydroxylase (Jervis, 1954) which normally converts significant amounts of phenylalanine to tyrosine. Phenylalanine can therefore only be metabolized to phenylpyruvate and other derivatives, a route which is inadequate to dispose of all the phenylalanine in the diet. The amino acid and phenylpyruvate therefore accummulate. The condition is characterized by serious mental retardation, for reasons which are unknown. By the early 1950s it was found that if the condition is diagnosed at birth and amounts of phenylalanine in the diet immediately and permamently reduced, mental retardation can be minimized. The defect is shown only in liver and is not detectable in amniotic fluid cells nor in fibroblasts. A very sensitive bacterial assay has therefore been developed for routine screening of phenylalanine levels in body fluids in newborn babies. 

Phenylalanine hydroxylase (PH) which requires tetrahydrobiopterin (BH4) as a cofactor, is defective in cases of phenylketonuria (PKU). This is a rare (prevalence 1 / 15 000 in the United Kingdom) genetic condition characterized by fair complexion, learning difficulties and mental impairment. If PH is either not present in the hepatocytes or is unable to bind BH4 and is therefore non functional, phenylalanine accumulates within the cells. Enzymes in minor pathways which are normally not very active metabolize phenylalanine ultimately to phenylpyruvate (i.e. a phenylketone). To use the traffic flow analogy introduced in Chapter 1, the main road is blocked so vehicles are forced along side roads. Phenylpyruvate is excreted in the urine (phenyl-ketone-uria), where it may be detected but a confirmatory blood test is required for a reliable diagnosis of PKU to be made. 

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