title: The metabolic and molecular bases of tetrahydrobiopterin-responsive phenylalanine hydroxylase deficiency.
abstract: About two-thirds of all mild phenylketonuria (PKU) patients are tetrahydrobiopterin (BH4)-responsive and thus can be potentially treated with BH4 instead of a low-phenylalanine diet. Although there has been an increase in the amount of information relating to the diagnosis and treatment of this new variant of PKU, very little is know about the mechanisms of BH4-responsiveness. This review will focus on laboratory investigations and possible molecular and structural mechanisms involved in this process.
authors.affiliation: Division of Clinical Chemistry and Biochemistry, University Children's Hospital, Zurich, Switzerland. nenad.blau@kispi.unizh.ch
authors.forename: Nenad
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Blau
authors.forename: Heidi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Erlandsen
mesh_terms: D001708:Biopterins / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000633:toxicity; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D010649:Phenylalanine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000097:blood; D010651:Phenylalanine Hydroxylase / Q000172:deficiency* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D010661:Phenylketonurias / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D001708:Biopterins; D010649:Phenylalanine; D010651:Phenylalanine Hydroxylase; C003402:sapropterin