The mechanism of phenylalanine hydroxylase.

R. A. Lazarus, D. E. Wallick, R. F. Dietrich, D. W. Gottschall, S. J. Benkovic, B. J. Gaffney, R. Shiman

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

11 Scopus citations

Abstract

The site of oxygen binding during phenylalanine hydroxylase (PAH)-catalyzed turnover of phenylalanine to tyrosine has been tentatively identified as the 4a position of the tetrahydropterin cofactor, based on the spectral characteristics of an intermediate generated from both 6-methyltetrahydropterin and tetrahydrobiopterin during turnover. The rates of appearance of the intermediate and tyrosine are equal. Both rates exhibit the same dependence on enzyme concentration. PAH also requires 1.0 iron per 50,000-dalton subunit for maximal activity. A direct correlation between iron content and specific activity has been demonstrated. Apoenzyme can be reactivated by addition of Fe(II) aerobically or Fe(III) anaerobically and can be repurified to give apparently native protein. Evidence from electron paramagnetic resonance implicates the presence of high spin (5/2) Fe(III). As a working hypothesis we postulate that a key complex at the active site may be one containing iron in close proximity to a 4a-peroxytetrahydropterin.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)2605-2607
Number of pages3
JournalFederation Proceedings
Volume41
Issue number9
StatePublished - Jul 1982

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • General Medicine

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'The mechanism of phenylalanine hydroxylase.'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this