In this report the presence, and level, of phenylalanine hydroxylase in the cortex of human kidney is established. The average activity found in 15 surgically removed kidneys was 47.2 ± 11.2 mU/g wet weight of tissue. The average value, determined under the same experimental conditions, for two human liver biopsies was 217 mU/g tissue. Of five autopsy livers obtained 2.5-4 h postmortem, four contained no activity, and only 1-2% of normal was found in the fifth. Autopsy kidneys were similarly inactive. The presence of a highly active degradative enzyme could not be demonstrated in autopsy liver homogenates; it was established that the lack of activity was not due to an inhibitory component. A possible interpretation of this phenomenon is discussed. According to work published elsewhere [3] the kidney and liver enzymes appear to be similar. Thus, surgically removed kidneys provide an alternative source of human phenylalanine hydroxylase which can be used to study phenylketonuria.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.
hi@scite.ai
10624 S. Eastern Ave., Ste. A-614
Henderson, NV 89052, USA
Copyright © 2024 scite LLC. All rights reserved.
Made with 💙 for researchers
Part of the Research Solutions Family.