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Disorders of biopterin metabolism

  • Symposium on Neurotransmitter Disorders
  • Published:
Journal of Inherited Metabolic Disease

An Erratum to this article was published on 25 April 2009

Summary

Defects in the metabolism or regeneration of tetrahydrobiopterin (BH4) were initially discovered in patients with hyperphenylalaninaemia who had progressive neurological deterioration despite optimal metabolic control (malignant hyperphenylalaninaemia). BH4 is an essential cofactor not only for phenylalanine hydroxylase, but also for tyrosine and two tryptophan hydroxylases, three nitric oxide synthases, and glyceryl-ether monooxygenase. Defective activity of tyrosine and tryptophan hydroxylases explains the neurological deterioration in patients with BH4 deficiency with progressive mental and physical retardation, central hypotonia and peripheral spasticity, seizures and microcephaly. Five separate genetic conditions affect BH4 synthesis or regeneration: deficiency of GTP cyclohydrolase I, 6-pyruvoyl tetrahydropterin synthase, sepiapterin reductase, dihydropteridine reductase (DHPR) and pterin-4α-carbinolamine dehydratase. Only the latter of these conditions is relatively benign and is associated with transient hyperphenylalaninaemia. All these conditions can be identified in newborns by an elevated phenylalanine, with the exception of sepiapterin reductase and the dominant form of GTP cyclohydrolase I deficiency that results in biopterin deficiency/insufficiency only in the brain. Diagnosis relies on the measurement of pterin metabolites in urine, dihydropteridine reductase in blood spots, neurotransmitters and pterins in the CSF and on the demonstration of reduced enzyme activity (red blood cells or fibroblasts) or causative mutations in the relative genes. The outcome of BH4 deficiency is no longer malignant if therapy is promptly initiated to reduce plasma phenylalanine levels and replace missing neurotransmitters. This is accomplished by a special diet and/or BH4 supplements and administration of l-dopa, carbidopa, 5-hydroxytryptophan, and, in certain cases, a MAO-B inhibitor. Patients with DHPR deficiency also require folinic acid supplements, since DHPR may help in maintaining folate in the tetrahydro form. Several patients with BH4 deficiency treated since the newborn period have reached adult age with good outcome.

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Abbreviations

BH4 :

tetrahydrobiopterin

CSF:

cerebrospinal fluid

DHPR:

dihydropteridine reductase

GFRP:

GTP cyclohydrolase I feedback regulatory protein

GTPCH:

GTP cyclohydrolase I

5-HIIA:

5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid

HVA:

homovanillic acid

PCD:

pterin-4-α-carbinolamine dehydratase

PTPS:

6-pyruvoyl-tetrahydropterin synthase

SR:

sepiapterin reductase

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Acknowledgements

I thank Drs Lorenzo Botto and Marzia Pasquali for reviewing this manuscript.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Medical Genetics, Department of Pediatrics and Pathology, University of Utah, 2C 412 SOM, 50 North Mario Capecchi Drive, Salt Lake City, UT, 84132, USA

    Nicola Longo

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  1. Nicola Longo
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Correspondence to Nicola Longo.

Additional information

Communicating editor: Michael Gibson

Competing interests: The author has received research grants from BioMarin Pharmaceuticals Inc. for the study of Kuvan in phenylketonuria. The author is an Advisor to BioMarin Pharmaceuticals Inc.

References to electronic databases: 6-Pyruvoyl-tetrahydropterin synthase: OMIM 261640. Dihydropteridine reductase: OMIM 261630. Dopa-responsive dystonia: OMIM 128230. GTP cyclohydrolase (GTPCH) I deficiency: OMIM 233910, 600225. GTP-cyclohydrolase I feedback regulatory protein: OMIM 602437. GTP-cyclohydrolase I: EC 3.5.4.16. Pterin-4α-carbinolamine dehydratase: OMIM 126090. Sepiapterin reductase: OMIM 182125; EC 1.1.1.153.

Presented at the 2nd Pediatric Neurotransmitter Disease (PND)Association Symposium, ‘Medical Management of Pediatric Neurotransmitter Disorders: A Multidisciplinary Approach’, 18–19 July 2008, Hyatt Dulles Hotel, Herndon, VA, USA.

An erratum to this article is available at http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10545-009-9964-y.

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Longo, N. Disorders of biopterin metabolism. J Inherit Metab Dis 32, 333–342 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10545-009-1067-2

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