scholarly journals Phenylketonuria: Brain Phenylalanine Concentrations Relate Inversely to Cerebral Protein Synthesis

2014 ◽  
Vol 35 (2) ◽  
pp. 200-205 ◽  
Author(s):  
Martijn J de Groot ◽  
Paul E Sijens ◽  
Dirk-Jan Reijngoud ◽  
Anne M Paans ◽  
Francjan J van Spronsen

In phenylketonuria, elevated plasma phenylalanine concentrations may disturb blood-to-brain large neutral amino acid (LNAA) transport and cerebral protein synthesis (CPS). We investigated the associations between these processes, using data obtained by positron emission tomography with l-[1-11C]-tyrosine (11C-Tyr) as a tracer. Blood-to-brain transport of non-Phe LNAAs was modeled by the rate constant for 11C-Tyr transport from arterial plasma to brain tissue (K1), while CPS was modeled by the rate constant for 11C-Tyr incorporation into cerebral protein (k3). Brain phenylalanine concentrations were measured by magnetic resonance spectroscopy in three volumes of interest (VOIs): supraventricular brain tissue (VOI 1), ventricular brain tissue (VOI 2), and fluid-containing ventricular voxels (VOI 3). The associations between k3 and each predictor variable were analyzed by multiple linear regression. The rate constant k3 was inversely associated with brain phenylalanine concentrations in VOIs 2 and 3 (adjusted R2=0.826, F=19.936, P=0.021). Since brain phenylalanine concentrations in these VOIs highly correlated with each other, the specific associations of each predictor with k3 could not be determined. The associations between k3 and plasma phenylalanine concentration, K1, and brain phenylalanine concentrations in VOI 1 were nonsignificant. In conclusion, our study shows an inverse association between k3 and increased brain phenylalanine concentrations.

2008 ◽  
Vol 28 (7) ◽  
pp. 1388-1398 ◽  
Author(s):  
Carolyn B Smith ◽  
Kathleen C Schmidt ◽  
Shrinivas Bishu ◽  
Michael A Channing ◽  
Jeff Bacon ◽  
...  

We have previously shown by direct comparison with autoradiographic and biochemical measurements that the l-[1-11C]leucine positron emission tomography method provides accurate determinations of regional rates of cerebral protein synthesis (rCPS) and the fraction (Λ) of unlabeled leucine in the precursor pool for protein synthesis derived from arterial plasma. In this study, we examine sensitivity of the method to detect changes in Λ and stability of the method to measure rCPS in the face of these changes. We studied four isoflurane-anesthetized monkeys dynamically scanned with the high resolution research tomograph under control and mild hyperphenylalaninemic conditions. Hyperphenylalaninemia was produced by an infusion of phenylalanine that increased plasma phenylalanine concentrations three- to five-fold. In phenylalanine-infused monkeys, plasma leucine concentrations remained relatively constant, but values of Λ were statistically significantly decreased by 11% to 15%; rCPS was unaffected. Effects on Λ are consistent with competitive inhibition of leucine transport by increased plasma phenylalanine. The effect on Λ shows that competition for the transporter results in a reduction in the fraction of leucine in the precursor pool for protein synthesis coming from plasma. Even under these hyperphenylalaninemic conditions, rCPS remains unchanged due to the compensating increased contribution of leucine from protein degradation to the precursor pool.


1989 ◽  
Vol 9 (4) ◽  
pp. 429-445 ◽  
Author(s):  
Randy E. Keen ◽  
Jorge R. Barrio ◽  
Sung-Cheng Huang ◽  
Randall A. Hawkins ◽  
Michael E. Phelps

Leucine oxidation and incorporation into proteins were examined in the in vivo rat brain to determine rates and compartmentation of these processes for the purpose of structuring mathematical compartmental models for the noninvasive estimation of in vivo human cerebral protein synthesis rates (CPSR) using positron emission tomography (PET). Leucine specific activity (SA) in arterial plasma and intracellular free amino acids, leucyl-tRNA, α-ketoisocaproic acid (KIC), and protein were determined in whole brain of the adult rat during the first 35 min after intravenous bolus injection of l-[1-14C]leucine. Incorporation of leucine into proteins accounted for 90% of total brain radioactivity at 35 min. The lack of [14C]KIC buildup indicates that leucine oxidation in brain is transaminase limited. Characteristic specific activities were maximal between 0 to 2 min after bolus injection with subsequent decline following the pattern: plasma leucine ≥ leucyl-tRNA ≈ KIC > intracellular leucine. The time integral of leucine SA in plasma was about four times that of tissue leucine and twice those of leucyl-tRNA and KIC, indicating the existence of free leucine, leucyl-tRNA, and KIC tissue compartments, communicating directly with plasma, and separate secondary free leucine, leucyl-tRNA, and KIC tissue compartments originating in unlabeled leucine from proteolysis. Therefore, a relatively simple model configuration based on the key assumptions that (a) protein incorporation and catabolism proceed from a precursor pool communicating with the plasma space, and (b) leucine catabolism is transaminase limited is justified for the in vivo assessment of CPSR from exogenous leucine sources using PET in humans.


2009 ◽  
Vol 29 (5) ◽  
pp. 1035-1047 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shrinivas Bishu ◽  
Kathleen C Schmidt ◽  
Thomas V Burlin ◽  
Michael A Charming ◽  
Lisa Horowitz ◽  
...  

We report regional rates of cerebral protein synthesis (rCPS) in 10 healthy young males, each studied under two conditions: awake and anesthetized with propofol. We used the quantitative l-[1-11C]leucine positron emission tomography (PET) method to measure rCPS. The method accounts for the fraction (1) of unlabeled leucine in the precursor pool for protein synthesis that is derived from arterial plasma; the remainder comes from proteolysis of tissue proteins. Across 18 regions and whole brain, mean differences in rCPS between studies ranged from 5% to 5% and were within the variability of rCPS in awake studies (coefficient of variation range: 7% to 14%). Similarly, differences in Λ (range: 1% to 4%) were typically within the variability of Λ (coefficient of variation range: 3% to 6%). Intersubject variances and patterns of regional variation were also similar under both conditions. In propofol-anesthetized subjects, rCPS varied regionally from 0.98 ± 0.12 to 2.39 ± 0.23 nmol g−1 min−1 in the corona radiata and in the cerebellum, respectively. Our data indicate that the values, variances, and patterns of regional variation in rCPS and Λ measured by the l-[1-11C]leucine PET method are not significantly altered by anesthesia with propofol.


2005 ◽  
Vol 25 (5) ◽  
pp. 629-640 ◽  
Author(s):  
Carolyn Beebe Smith ◽  
Kathleen C Schmidt ◽  
Mei Qin ◽  
Thomas V Burlin ◽  
Michelle P Cook ◽  
...  

The confounding effect of recycling of amino acids derived from tissue protein breakdown into the precursor pool for protein synthesis has been an obstacle to adapting in vivo methods for determination of regional rates of cerebral protein synthesis (rCPS) to positron emission tomography (PET). We used a kinetic modeling approach to estimate λ, the fraction of the precursor pool for protein synthesis derived from arterial plasma, and to measure rCPS in three anesthetized adult monkeys dynamically scanned after a bolus injection of L-[1-11C]leucine. In the same animals, λ was directly measured in a steady-state terminal experiment, and values showed excellent agreement with those estimated in the PET studies. In three additional monkeys rCPS was determined with the quantitative autoradiographic L-[1-14C]leucine method. In whole brain and cerebellum, rates of protein synthesis determined with the autoradiographic method were in excellent agreement with those determined with PET, and regional values were in good agreement when differences in spatial resolution of the two methods were taken into account. Low intrasubject variability was found on repeated PET studies. Our results in anesthetized monkey indicate that, by using a kinetic modeling approach to correct for recycling of tissue amino acids, quantitatively accurate and reproducible measurement of rCPS is possible with L-[1-11C]leucine and PET.


2008 ◽  
Vol 28 (8) ◽  
pp. 1502-1513 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shrinivas Bishu ◽  
Kathleen C Schmidt ◽  
Thomas Burlin ◽  
Michael Channing ◽  
Shielah Conant ◽  
...  

We report regional rates of cerebral protein synthesis (rCPS) measured with the fully quantitative l-[1-11C]leucine positron emission tomography (PET) method. The method accounts for the fraction (Λ) of unlabeled amino acids in the precursor pool for protein synthesis derived from arterial plasma; the remainder (1-Λ) comes from tissue proteolysis. We determined rCPS and Λ in 18 regions and whole brain in 10 healthy men (21 to 24 years). Subjects underwent two 90-min dynamic PET studies with arterial blood sampling at least 2 weeks apart. Rates of cerebral protein synthesis varied regionally and ranged from 0.97 ± 0.70 to 2.25 ± 0.20 nmol/g per min. Values of rCPS were in good agreement between the two PET studies. Mean differences in rCPS between studies ranged from 9% in cortical regions to 15% in white matter. The Λ value was comparatively more uniform across regions, ranging from 0.63 ± 0.03 to 0.79 ± 0.02. Mean differences in Λ between studies were 2% to 8%. Intersubject variability in rCPS was on average 6% in cortical areas, 9% in subcortical regions, and 12% in white matter; intersubject variability in Λ was 2% to 8%. Our data indicate that in human subjects low variance and highly reproducible measures of rCPS can be made with the l-[1-11C]leucine PET method.


1989 ◽  
Vol 9 (4) ◽  
pp. 446-460 ◽  
Author(s):  
Randall A. Hawkins ◽  
Sung-Cheng Huang ◽  
Jorge R. Barrio ◽  
Randy E. Keen ◽  
Dagan Feng ◽  
...  

We have estimated the cerebral protein synthesis rates (CPSR) in a series of normal human volunteers and monkeys using l-[1-11C]leucine and positron emission tomography (PET) using a three-compartment model. The model structure, consisting of a tissue precursor, metabolite, and protein compartment, was validated with biochemical assay data obtained in rat studies. The CPSR values estimated in human hemispheres of about 0.5 nmol/min/g agree well with hemispheric estimates in monkeys. The sampling requirements (input function and scanning sequence) for accurate estimates of model parameters were investigated in a series of computer simulation studies.


2009 ◽  
Vol 96 (4) ◽  
pp. 177-182 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marieke Hoeksma ◽  
Dirk-Jan Reijngoud ◽  
Jan Pruim ◽  
Harold W. de Valk ◽  
Anne M.J. Paans ◽  
...  

2013 ◽  
Vol 33 (4) ◽  
pp. 499-507 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mei Qin ◽  
Kathleen C Schmidt ◽  
Alan J Zametkin ◽  
Shrinivas Bishu ◽  
Lisa M Horowitz ◽  
...  

Dysregulated protein synthesis is thought to be a core phenotype of fragile X syndrome (FXS). In a mouse model ( Fmr1 knockout (KO)) of FXS, rates of cerebral protein synthesis (rCPS) are increased in selective brain regions. We hypothesized that rCPS are also increased in FXS subjects. We measured rCPS with the L-[1-11C]leucine positron emission tomography (PET) method in whole brain and 10 regions in 15 FXS subjects who, because of their impairments, were studied under deep sedation with propofol. We compared results with those of 12 age-matched controls studied both awake and sedated. In controls, we found no differences in rCPS between awake and propofol sedation. Contrary to our hypothesis, FXS subjects under propofol sedation had reduced rCPS in whole brain, cerebellum, and cortex compared with sedated controls. To investigate whether propofol could have a disparate effect in FXS subjects masking usually elevated rCPS, we measured rCPS in C57Bl/6 wild-type (WT) and KO mice awake or under propofol sedation. Propofol decreased rCPS substantially in most regions examined in KO mice, but in WT mice caused few discrete changes. Propofol acts by decreasing neuronal activity either directly or by increasing inhibitory synaptic activity. Our results suggest that changes in synaptic signaling can correct increased rCPS in FXS.


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