Kh. Schulpis et al., IN-VITRO INFLUENCE OF PHENYLALANINE ON ACETYLCHOLINESTERASE ACTIVITY AND DNA, Zeitschrift fur Naturforschung. C, A journal of biosciences, 53(3-4), 1998, pp. 291-293
Acetylcholinesterase (AChE) is a significant component of the membrane
contributing to the permeability changes during synaptic transmission
and conduction. Phenylketonuria is a group of metabolic disorders in
which phenylalanine (Phe) is highly elevated in blood (up to 0.1M) res
ulting in mental retardation etc. ACHE activity was measured spectroph
otometrically after incubation with various Phe concentrations. Phe in
teraction with DNA was evaluated with an established HPLC method. Phe
was found to inhibit ACHE almost 40%, at a concentration of 5 mM, wher
eas a 62.5% DNA peak exclusion (molecular interaction) was observed wh
en Phe was incubated with DNA at a concentration of 3 mM. In addition
the ratio of DNA: Phe determined the potency of the observed molecular
effect.