Hyperphenylalaninemia with high levels of 7-biopterin is associated with mutations in the PCBD gene encoding the bifunctional protein pterin-4a-carbinolamine dehydratase and transcriptional coactivator (DCoH).

Pterin-4a-carbinolamine dehydratase (PCD) is required for efficient tetrahydrobiopterin regeneration after phenylalanine hydroxylase activity. This catalytic function was proposed to be specifically defective in newborns with a mild form of hyperphenylalaninemia (HPA) and persistent high urinary levels of primapterin (7-biopterin). A second regulatory task of the same protein is DCoH, a coactivation of transcription by hepatocyte nuclear factor 1alpha (HNF-1alpha), a function that is apparently not impaired in these HPA individuals. It has been shown elsewhere that the human PCD/DCoH bifunctional protein is encoded by a single 4-exon-containing gene, PCBD, located on chromosome 10q22. We have now examined the PCBD gene for mutations at the genomic level in six such HPA patients from four different families. By the use of new intron-specific primers, we detected, in all six patients, single, homozygous nucleotide alterations, in exon 4, that were inherited from their parents. These homozygous alterations predicted mutant PCD/DCoH with a single amino acid exchange, in two cases (alleles T78I), or premature stop codons, in the other four patients (alleles E86X and Q97X). Recombinant expression in Escherichia coli revealed that the mutant proteins-T78I, E86X, and Q97X-are almost entirely in the insoluble fraction, in contrast to wild type, which is expressed as a soluble protein. These data support the proposal that HPA in combination with urinary primapterin may be due to autosomal recessive inheritance of mutations in the PCBD gene specifically affecting the dehydratase activity.

Diagnosis in relationship to treatment of hyperphenylalaninaemia.

PKU is not a single simply defined entity. It is part of a spectrum of the hyperphenylalaninaemias. Natural protein loading studies with uniform Phe equivalents are simple, and they are an inexpensive and safe way to determine or categorize the types of hyperphenylalaninaemias (excluding defects of biopterin). Evidence from the US PKU Collaborative Study indicates that all patients with PKU do not require indefinite or prolonged restrictive dietary therapy to maintain normal intellectual functioning. Although there are as yet no absolute criteria, it appears that the milder forms of PKU may need treatment for a shorter period of time.

Four cases of hyperphenylalaninaemia: studies during pregnancy and of the offspring produced.

Four cases of variant hyperphenylalaninaemia during pregnancy are presented. Babies born to mothers with blood phenylalanine concentrations of 4-8 mg/dl were normal and did not exhibit significant microcephaly, although one did have a major congenital anomaly (exstrophy of the bladder). The mother with blood phenylalanine concentrations of 6-12 mg/dl during pregnancy delivered three of four infants with mild microcephaly but normal intellectual function. The data suggest that phenylalanine concentrations of 4-8 mg/dl are reasonable and desirable during pregnancy in hyperphenylalaninaemic women. Furthermore, the data do not support or refute the justification hypothesis of Bessman et al.

EEG pattern in phenylketonuria under early initiated dietary treatment.

Nineteen of 161 infants with a confirmed diagnosis of phenylketonuria (PKU) had initially abnormal EEGs obtained within days of diagnosis. The abnormalities consisted of single repetitive or multiple spikes and/or sharp waves, focal or scattered, which rarely occurred in paroxysmal bursts. Initial maximal diagnostic serum phenylalanine (Phe) levels were significantly higher for the group with abnormal EEGs. The mean diagnostic serum Phe level was 56 mg/dL in the group with abnormal EEGs, whereas the mean diagnostic Phe level was 48 mg/dL in the group with normal tracings. The average age at initiation of restrictive dietary treatment was approximately 3 weeks. The initially abnormal EEGs became normal by 1 year of age in all but two patients who had a minimal and a mild abnormality, respectively. Hypsarrhythmic patterns were not seen. Infants with PKU detected early and treated well do not appear to need routine EEG monitoring.

Plasma phenylalanine levels in phenylketonuric heterozygous and normal adults administered aspartame at 34 mg/kg body weight.

Following administration of aspartame (34 mg/kg body wt) in orange juice, plasma concentrations of free amino acids were measured in 12 female subjects known to be heterozygous for phenylketonuria and 22 normal subjects (12 male, 10 female). No change in fasting plasma aspartate concentrations were noted after aspartame loading in either group. In normal male subjects, the mean (+/-S.D.) plasma phenylalanine concentration increased from a fasting value of 5.86 +/- 1.25 mumol/dl. Plasma phenylalanine levels in normal female subjects increased from a mean fasting concentration of 4.83 +/- 0.84 mumol/dl to a men peak value of 8.95 +/- 1.49 mumol/dl suggesting a more rapid absorption, metabolism, and/or clearance of phenylalanine by females. In female heterozygous subjects, the mean peak plasma phenylalanine concentration was significantly higher than in normal females. Plasma phenylalanine values increased from a mean fasting value of 5.92 +/- 1.51 mumol/dl to a mean peak value of 15.1 +/- 4.76 mumol/dl. Similarly, the area under the plasma phenylalanine concentration-time curve was significantly greater in heterozygous female subjects (21.36 +/- 5.10 IU) than in normal female subjects (10.84 +/- 2.32 IU). However, peak plasma phenylalanine levels were well below those associated with toxic effects in all cases.

Nesidioblastosis and other islet cell abnormalities in hyperinsulinemic hypoglycemia of childhood.

The histologic findings are described in 16 subtotal pancreatectomies performed in patients with hyperinsulinemic hypoglycemia over a 17 year period. All patients had nesidioblastosis, defined as the presence of small packets of two to 25 islet cells scattered throughout acinar tissue and separate from islets of Langerhans. The proliferating islet cells were a mixture of beta, alpha, and delta cells. Two histologic subgroups were apparent: Group I patients had diffuse hyperplasia of the islets of Langerhans as well as nesidioblastosis, and group II patients had more subtle nesidioblastosis alone. The patients in groups I and II were remarkably age segregated. All but one of the group I patients were eight months old or younger. Group II patients ranged in age from three to 15 years. The incidence of nesidioblastosis in the patients undergoing pancreatectomy was higher than the incidence in a group of age matched autopsy controls.

The diagnosis of phenylketonuria: a report from the Collaborative Study of Children Treated for Phenylketonuria.

One hundred ninety-five infants who met diagnostic criteria for enrollment in the Collaborative Study of Children Treated for Phenylketonuria (PKU) underwent a standard three-day challenge with 180 mg/kg/day of phenylalanine for confirmation of diagnosis. A sustained rise in serum phenylalanine levels of greater than 20 mg/dl was observed in 166 infants (85.1%), compatible with the diagnosis of classical PKU. In the remaining 29 infants (14.9%), the serum phenylalanine concentration either did not reach 20 mg/dL or, having achieved this level, subsequently declined below this point by 72 hours. It was agreed that these 29 patients had variant PKU and they were dropped from the Collaborative Study. We recommend that all infants diagnosed as having classic PKU undergo a challenge to confirm the diagnosis and need for continued treatment.

Determination of deuterium-labeled phenylalanine and tyrosine in human plasma with high pressure liquid chromatography and mass spectrometry.

A method is presented for the recovery of deuterated phenylalanine and tyrosine from human plasma. Phenylthiohydantoine derivatives are formed (Edman reaction) which are separated and isolated by high pressure liquid chromatography. The relative concentration of the deuterated amino acid is determined by mass spectrometry. The results obtained from a healthy person after oral loading with 40% monodeuterated L-phenylalanine are presented. The method appears to be suitable for in vivo studies of phenylalanine metabolism in humans.

Drug interaction: diazoxide and diphenylhydantoin.

In two children treated for hypoglycemia and convulsions with diazoxide and diphenylhydantoin, therapeutic serum diphenylhydantoin levels were not achieved despite doses of diphenylhydantoin of 17 and 29 mg/kg/day, respectively. After diazoxide was discontinued, serum diphenylhydantoin levels were within the therapeutic range in each patient with doses of 6.6 and 10 mg/kg/day, respectively. Serum diphenylhydantoin fell to undetectable levels within four days after experimental reinitiation of diazoxide administration in one patient. Although the mechanism for the effect of diazoxide on serum concentrations of diphenylhydantoin is uncertain, an increased rate of metabolism of diphenylhydantoin is suggested by our findings. Decreased plasma protein binding of diphenylhydantoin, induced by diazoxide, was observed and may play a role.