Abstract
The hypothesis that brain damage in phenylketonuria is related to inhibition of pyruvate kinase by phenylalanine was examined in rat brain in vivo. One hour after a single injection of phenylalanine into the rat, the brains were removed and completely frozen in less than a second. The concentration of phenylalanine in the brain was comparable to that found in phenylketonuric patients. Changes in brain glycolytic intermediates were consistent with inhibition of pyruvate kinase in vivo. The inhibition of pyruvate kinase was apparently compensated for by an increase in phosphoenolpyruvate; no decrease in adenosine triphosphate or creatine phosphate was found.
Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
