| First Author | Elzaouk L | Year | 2003 |
| Journal | J Biol Chem | Volume | 278 |
| Issue | 30 | Pages | 28303-11 |
| PubMed ID | 12734191 | Mgi Jnum | J:84533 |
| Mgi Id | MGI:2668260 | Doi | 10.1074/jbc.M303986200 |
| Citation | Elzaouk L, et al. (2003) Dwarfism and low insulin-like growth factor-1 due to dopamine depletion in Pts-/- mice rescued by feeding neurotransmitter precursors and H4-biopterin. J Biol Chem 278(30):28303-11 |
| abstractText | The tetrahydrobiopterin (BH4) cofactor is essential for the biosynthesis of catecholamines and serotonin and for nitric-oxide synthase (NOS). Alterations in BH4 metabolism are observed in various neurological and psychiatric diseases, and mutations in one of the human metabolic genes causes hyperphenylalaninemia and/or monoamine neurotransmitter deficiency. We report on a knockout mouse for the Pts gene, which codes for a BH4-biosynthetic enzyme. Homozygous Pts-/- mice developed with normal morphology but died after birth. Upon daily oral administration of BH4 and neurotransmitter precursors the Pts-/- mice eventually survived. However, at sexual maturity (6 weeks) the mice had only one-third of the normal body weight and were sexually immature. Biochemical analysis revealed no hyperphenylalaninemia, normal brain NOS activity, and almost normal serotonin levels, but brain dopamine was 3% of normal. Low dopamine leads to impaired food consumption as reflected by the severe growth deficiency and a 7-fold reduced serum insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1). This is the first link shown between 6-pyruvoyltetrahydropterin synthase- or BH4-biosynthetic activity and IGF-1. |
