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Summary: A 1-year-old girl born outside the United States with developmental
delays, hypotonia, hypopigmentation, and foul smelling urine.
◆ Likely Diagnosis: Phenylketonuria (PKU)
◆ Biochemical basis of hypopigmentation: Phenylalanine is competitive
inhibitor of tyrosinase (key enzyme in melanin synthesis)
CLINICAL CORRELATION
Elevated phenylalanine can be caused by a variety of different enzyme deficiencies
resulting in impaired conversion of phenylalanine to tyrosine. The most
common deficiency is in phenylalanine hydroxylase (autosomal recessive)
resulting in the classic picture of PKU. Two other enzyme deficiencies leading
to PKU include dihydropteridine reductase and 6-pyruvoyl-tetrahydropterin
synthase, an enzyme in the biosynthetic pathway of tetrahydrobiopterin. With
PKU, the baby appears normal at birth but then fails to reach normal developmental
milestones. If unrecognized, the child will develop profound mental
retardation and impairment of cerebral function. A mousy odor of the skin, hair,
and urine can often be detected clinically. Areas of hypopigmentation develop
secondary to the disruption of melanin synthesis. In the United States, all children
are screened for PKU in hopes to prevent the serious life-long complications.
Treatment consists of dietary modifications with limitation of
phenylalanine intake and supplementation of tyrosine. The diagnosis of PKU
and initiation of diet modification needs to be implemented prior to 3 weeks of
age to prevent mental retardation and the other classic signs of PKU.
APPROACH TO PHENYLKETONURIA
Objectives
1. Describe the biochemical conversion of phenylalanine to tyrosine.
2. Describe the biochemical events that occur when conversion of phenylalanine
to tyrosine is inhibited.
Definitions
Hypopigmentation: Lack of color in skin or hair due to the absence or low
quantity of the skin and hair pigment melanin, a product of tyrosine (and
phenylalanine) metabolism.
Tetrahydrobiopterin: A four-electron-reduced form of the reducing agent
biopterin required to supply electrons to phenylalanine hydroxylase for
conversion of phenylalanine to its hydroxylated product, the amino acid
tyrosine.
COMPREHENSION QUESTIONS
[38.1] A 3-month-old boy presents with elevated levels of phenylalanine,
para-hydroxyphenylpyruvate and phenylpyruvate in the serum. His
skin color is pale. On your differential diagnosis is phenylketonuria.
Which of the following would be consistent in such a case?
A. Elevated levels of homogentisic acid in the serum
B. A deficiency in vitamin B12 (cobalamin)
C. Elevated levels of pyridoxal phosphate in the serum
D. The urine in the boy’s diaper smells like fresh maple syrup
E. Phenylalanine hydroxylase activity is only 2 percent of normal
[38.2] A 1-year-old girl presents at your clinic the day after you saw the 3-
month-old boy. The symptoms are the same so you order a test on
phenylalanine hydroxylase to confirm your diagnosis of phenylketonuria.
To your surprise the phenylalanine hydroxylase activity is well
within the normal range. Which of the following might you check next
to support your diagnosis?
A. Tyrosine: α-ketoglutarate transaminase
B. Tyrosinase
C. Homogentisic acid oxidase
D. Dihydropteridine reductase
E. Dopamine hydroxylase
[38.3] Skin color is the aggregate result of the expression of a number of genes
modified by ethnic origin and genetic inheritance. Hypopigmentation
may be caused by which of the following?
A. Excess formation of melanin
B. Excess phenylalanine in the serum and tissues
C. Hyposecretion of melatonin
D. Excessive stimulation of tyrosinase
E. Low levels of para-hydroxyphenylpyruvate
Answers
[38.1] E. The correct response is very low levels of phenylalanine hydroxylase,
a key enzyme in the metabolic sequelae of phenylketonuria, that is, elevated
phenylalanine, phenylpyruvate, and para-hydroxyphenylpyruvate
in blood. Homogentisic acid is an intermediate in the breakdown of
tyrosine to fumarate and acetoacetate. Vitamin B 12 is required in the
metabolism of branched-chain amino acids not phenylalanine. The
α-keto acids of the branched chain amino acids produce the maplesyrup
odor. [38.2] A. The correct response is dihydropteridine reductase. This enzyme
reduces dihydrobiopterin to tetrahydrobiopterin the obligate electron
donor for phenylalanine hydroxylase. Tyrosinase is the first enzyme on
the pathway to melanin. Dopamine hydroxylase and tyrosine transaminase
are enzymes on other tyrosine metabolic tracts. Homogentisic
acid oxidase is an enzyme on the pathway of tyrosine to fumarate and
acetoacetate.
[38.3] B. Excess phenylalanine inhibits tyrosinase the first step toward melanin
production, thus resulting in hypopigmentation. Excess melanin leads to
hyperpigmentation. Melatonin is a hormone involved in the sleep cycle.
Excessive stimulation of tyrosinase would lead to more melanin and
therefore hyperpigmentation. Para-hydroxyphenylpyruvate means less
transamination and perhaps more tyrosine converted to melanin and
hyperpigmentation.
BIOCHEMISTRY PEARLS
❖ Phenylketonuria (PKU) is an autosomal recessive disorder of amino
acid metabolism affecting approximately 1/10,000 of infants in
the North America.
❖ It is most often due to deficiency of the enzyme phenylalanine
hydroxylase which causes the accumulation of harmful metabolites,
including phenylketones.
❖ The gene for phenylalanine hydroxylase is located on chromosome
12 at band region q 23.2.
❖ If untreated, PKU leads to mental retardation, seizures, psychoses,
eczema, and a distinctive “mousy” odor.
❖ Phenylketonuria is a disease readily diagnosable in childhood and it
is important for an optimal clinical outcome for it to be diagnosed
as early as possible.
Preguntas de comprensión
[38.1] Un niño de 3 meses de edad, se presenta con niveles elevados de fenilalanina,
-hydroxyphenylpyruvate para y fenilpiruvato en el suero. Su
color de la piel es pálida. En su diagnóstico diferencial es la fenilcetonuria.
¿Cuál de las siguientes sería coherente en tal caso?
Niveles elevados de ácido A. homogentísico en el suero
B. Una deficiencia de la vitamina B12 (cobalamina)
C. niveles elevados de fosfato de piridoxal en el suero
D. La orina en el pañal del niño huele a jarabe de arce fresca
Actividad hidroxilasa E. La fenilalanina es sólo el 2 por ciento de lo normal
[38.2] Una niña de 1 año de edad, presenta en su clínica el día después de que vio el 3-
meses de edad chico. Los síntomas son los mismos por lo que pide una prueba en
fenilalanina hidroxilasa para confirmar su diagnóstico de la fenilcetonuria.
Para su sorpresa, la actividad de la fenilalanina hidroxilasa es así
dentro de la gama normal. Cuál de las siguientes podría usted comprobar próximo
para apoyar su diagnóstico?
A. Tirosina: α-cetoglutarato transaminasa
B. La tirosinasa
Oxidasa del ácido homogentísico C.
D. dihidropteridina reductasa
E. La dopamina hidroxilasa
[38.3] Color de la piel es el resultado agregado de la expresión de un número de genes
modificado por el origen étnico y la herencia genética. Hipopigmentación
puede ser causada por cuál de las siguientes?
A. El exceso de formación de la melanina
B. El exceso de fenilalanina en el suero y en los tejidos
C. hiposecreción de la melatonina
D. La estimulación excesiva de la tirosinasa
Niveles bajos de E. -hydroxyphenylpyruvate párr
Respuestas
[38,1] E. La respuesta correcta es muy bajos niveles de fenilalanina hidroxilasa,
una enzima clave en la secuelas metabólicas de la fenilcetonuria, es decir, elevado
fenilalanina, fenilpiruvato, y -hydroxyphenylpyruvate párr
en la sangre. Ácido homogentísico es un intermedio en la descomposición de
tirosina a fumarato y acetoacetato. La vitamina B 12 se requiere en el
metabolismo de no aminoácidos de cadena ramificada fenilalanina. La
α-ceto ácidos de los aminoácidos de cadena ramificada producen el Maplesyrup
olor. [38.2] A. La respuesta correcta es la reductasa dihidropteridina. Esta enzima
dihidrobiopterina reduce a la tetrahidrobiopterina el electrón obligado
de los donantes para la fenilalanina hidroxilasa. La tirosinasa es la primera enzima en
la vía a la melanina. La dopamina y la hidroxilasa de tirosina transaminasa
son enzimas sobre otras vías metabólicas tirosina. Homogentísico
ácido oxidasa es una enzima en la vía de la tirosina a fumarato y
acetoacetato.
[38.3] B. El exceso de fenilalanina inhibe la tirosinasa el primer paso hacia la melanina
producción, lo que resulta en la hipopigmentación. El exceso de melanina conduce a
hiperpigmentación. La melatonina es una hormona involucrada en el ciclo del sueño.
La estimulación excesiva de la tirosinasa llevaría a más melanina y
Por lo tanto, la hiperpigmentación. -hydroxyphenylpyruvate Pará significa menos
transaminación y quizás más tirosina convierten a la melanina y
hiperpigmentación.
PERLAS BIOQUÍMICA
❖ Fenilcetonuria (PKU) es una enfermedad autosómica recesiva de amino
metabolismo de los ácidos que afecta a aproximadamente 1 / 10.000 de los lactantes en
la América del Norte.
❖ Es más a menudo debido a la deficiencia de la enzima fenilalanina
hidroxilasa que causa la acumulación de metabolitos dañinos,
incluyendo fenilcetonas.
❖ El gen de la fenilalanina hidroxilasa se encuentra en el cromosoma
12 en banda región q 23.2.
❖ Si no se trata, la PKU conduce a retraso mental, convulsiones, psicosis,
eczema, y un distintivo olor "a ratón".
❖ La fenilcetonuria es una enfermedad fácilmente diagnosticable en la infancia y que
es importante para un resultado clínico óptimo para que pueda ser diagnosticada
tan pronto como sea posible.