Observations indicating the nature of the mutation in phenylketonuria

J Inherit Metab Dis. 1980;2(4):79-84. doi: 10.1007/BF01805662.

Abstract

Rabbit antiserum was prepared against purified normal human liver phenylalanine hydroxylase. This was used to test for cross-reacting material in crude extracts of livers from patients with classical phenylketonuria (PKU); the samples from patients were two livers obtained at autopsy and a needle biopsy core. None of these enzymically inactive livers contained detectable cross-reacting material capable of neutralizing antibody activity in double immunodiffusion and/or enzyme inhibition experiments. In an earlier study, no phenylalanine hydroxylase was found in the two autopsy PKU livers by an affinity chromatography method or by the use of a specific antiserum raised against purified monkey liver phenylalanine hydroxylase (Choo et al., 1979a). This evidence suggests that mutations in th PKU patients studied may be regulatory in nature.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Antigen-Antibody Complex
  • Humans
  • Immune Sera
  • Immunodiffusion
  • Kinetics
  • Liver / enzymology
  • Mutation*
  • Phenylalanine Hydroxylase / genetics*
  • Phenylalanine Hydroxylase / isolation & purification
  • Phenylalanine Hydroxylase / metabolism
  • Phenylketonurias / genetics*

Substances

  • Antigen-Antibody Complex
  • Immune Sera
  • Phenylalanine Hydroxylase