Tyrosine Metabolism

Inherited disorders of tyrosine catabolism have been identified at five of the six enzymatic steps. Under normal conditions tyrosine concentrations are regulated by its synthetic enzyme (phenylalanine hydroxylase) and especially the first catabolic enzyme (tyrosine aminotransferase). Acquired or inherited deficiency of the second catabolic enzyme (4-hydroxyphenylpyruvate dioxygenase) also results in hypertyrosinemia. Tyrosine is mainly degraded in the liver but to a minor extent also in the kidney. In tyrosinemia type I, the primary defect is in the last enzyme of the pathway, accumulation of toxic metabolites are seen, and the hypertyrosinemia results from secondary deficiency of 4-hydroxyphenylpyruvate dioxygenase, which also is found in severe liver disease in general and in the immature liver. Generally, there is no common phenotype to the different disorders of tyrosine degradation. The occurrence of corneal and skin lesions, as seen in tyrosinemia type II, is a direct effect of high tissue tyrosine. Cognitive impairment is common in tyrosinemia type II, probably common in type III, and increasingly reported in type I. The liver and kidney diseases of tyrosinemia type I are caused by accumulation of toxic metabolites (fumarylacetoacetate and its derivatives) and can be prevented by an inhibitor (nitisinone) of tyrosine degradation at the level of 4-hydroxyphenylpyruvate dioxygenase. Whether maleylacetoacetate hydrolase that essentially gives the same metabolic features as tyrosinemia type I results in clinical features is unclear. In alkaptonuria there is no increase in tyrosine level, and the degradation of tyrosine proceeds at a normal rate to produce homogentisate. Upon oxidation, homogentisate forms reactive intermediates and pigment, which is deposited in various tissues particularly in joints and connective tissue. In hawkinsinuria, a very rare condition, data suggest that an aberrant metabolism of 4-hydroxyphenylpyruvate in some cases may lead to failure to thrive, acidosis, and excretion of a characteristic metabolite pattern.</p

Tyrosine Metabolism

Inherited disorders of tyrosine catabolism have been identified at five of the six enzymatic steps. Under normal conditions tyrosine concentrations are regulated by its synthetic enzyme (phenylalanine hydroxylase) and especially the first catabolic enzyme (tyrosine aminotransferase). Acquired or inherited deficiency of the second catabolic enzyme (4-hydroxyphenylpyruvate dioxygenase) also results in hypertyrosinemia. Tyrosine is mainly degraded in the liver but to a minor extent also in the kidney. In tyrosinemia type I, the primary defect is in the last enzyme of the pathway, accumulation of toxic metabolites are seen, and the hypertyrosinemia results from secondary deficiency of 4-hydroxyphenylpyruvate dioxygenase, which also is found in severe liver disease in general and in the immature liver. Generally, there is no common phenotype to the different disorders of tyrosine degradation. The occurrence of corneal and skin lesions, as seen in tyrosinemia type II, is a direct effect of high tissue tyrosine. Cognitive impairment is common in tyrosinemia type II, probably common in type III, and increasingly reported in type I. The liver and kidney diseases of tyrosinemia type I are caused by accumulation of toxic metabolites (fumarylacetoacetate and its derivatives) and can be prevented by an inhibitor (nitisinone) of tyrosine degradation at the level of 4-hydroxyphenylpyruvate dioxygenase. Whether maleylacetoacetate hydrolase that essentially gives the same metabolic features as tyrosinemia type I results in clinical features is unclear. In alkaptonuria there is no increase in tyrosine level, and the degradation of tyrosine proceeds at a normal rate to produce homogentisate. Upon oxidation, homogentisate forms reactive intermediates and pigment, which is deposited in various tissues particularly in joints and connective tissue. In hawkinsinuria, a very rare condition, data suggest that an aberrant metabolism of 4-hydroxyphenylpyruvate in some cases may lead to failure to thrive, acidosis, and excretion of a characteristic metabolite pattern.</p

Tetrahydrobiopterin treatment in phenylketonuria:A repurposing approach

In phenylketonuria (PKU) patients, early diagnosis by neonatal screening and immediate institution of a phenylalanine-restricted diet can prevent severe intellectual impairment. Nevertheless, outcome remains suboptimal in some patients asking for additional treatment strategies. Tetrahydrobiopterin (BH4) could be one of those treatment options, as it may not only increase residual phenylalanine hydroxylase activity in BH4-responsive PKU patients, but possibly also directly improves neurocognitive functioning in both BH4-responsive and BH4-unresponsive PKU patients. In the present review, we aim to further define the theoretical working mechanisms by which BH4 might directly influence neurocognitive functioning in PKU having passed the blood-brain barrier. Further research should investigate which of these mechanisms are actually involved, and should contribute to the development of an optimal BH4 treatment regimen to directly improve neurocognitive functioning in PKU. Such possible repurposing approach of BH4 treatment in PKU may improve neuropsychological outcome and mental health in both BH4-responsive and BH4-unresponsive PKU patients

Salt extraction versus ion exchange

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Preventive use of nitisinone in alkaptonuria

Abstract Alkaptonuria (AKU, OMIM 203500) is a rare congenital disorder caused by a deficiency of the enzyme homogentisate-1,2,-dioxygenase. The long-term consequences of AKU are joint problems, cardiac valve abnormalities and renal problems. Landmark intervention studies with nitisinone 10 mg daily, suppressing an upstream enzyme activity, demonstrated its beneficial effects in AKU patients with established complications, which usually start to develop in the fourth decade. Lower dose of nitisinone in the range of 0.2–2 mg daily will already reduce urinary homogentisic acid (uHGA) excretion by > 90%, which may prevent AKU-related complications earlier in the course of the disease while limiting the possibility of side-effects related to the increase of plasma tyrosine levels caused by nitisinone. Future preventive studies should establish the lowest possible dose for an individual patient, the best age to start treatment and also collect evidence to which level uHGA excretion should be reduced to prevent complications

3-Dimensional Imaging of Biological Structures by High Resolution Confocal Scanning Laser Microscopy

Imaging in confocal microscopy is characterized by the ability to make a selective image of just one plane inside a specimen, virtually unaffected -within certain limits-by the out-of-focus regions above and below it. This property, called optical sectioning, is accompanied by improved imaging transverse to the optical axis. We have coupled a confocal microscope to a computer system, making the combination of both an excellent instrument for mapping the 3-dimensional structure of extended specimens into a computer memory/data array. We measured that the volume element contributing to each data point has, under typical fluorescence conditions, a size of 0.2 x 0.2 x 0.72 μm. The data can be analysed and represented in various ways, i.e., stereoscopical views from any desired angle. After a description of the experimental arrangement, we show various examples of biological and food-structural studies. The microscope can be operated either in reflection or in fluorescence. In the latter mode a spectral element allows selection of the wavelength band of fluorescence light contributing to the image. In this way, we can distinguish various structures inside the cell and study their 3-dimensional relationships. Various applications in biology and the study of food structure are presented

Single amino acid supplementation in aminoacidopathies:a systematic review

Aminoacidopathies are a group of rare and diverse disorders, caused by the deficiency of an enzyme or transporter involved in amino acid metabolism. For most aminoacidopathies, dietary management is the mainstay of treatment. Such treatment includes severe natural protein restriction, combined with protein substitution with all amino acids except the amino acids prior to the metabolic block and enriched with the amino acid that has become essential by the enzymatic defect. For some aminoacidopathies, supplementation of one or two amino acids, that have not become essential by the enzymatic defect, has been suggested. This so-called single amino acid supplementation can serve different treatment objectives, but evidence is limited. The aim of the present article is to provide a systematic review on the reasons for applications of single amino acid supplementation in aminoacidopathies treated with natural protein restriction and synthetic amino acid mixtures