Phenylalanine Increases Membrane Permeability

J Am Chem Soc. 2017 Oct 18;139(41):14388-14391. doi: 10.1021/jacs.7b09219. Epub 2017 Oct 9.

Abstract

Biological membranes are a crucial aspect of living systems, controlling the organization and distribution of different chemical components. Control of membrane permeability is especially important for processes such as electron transport in metabolism and signal propagation in nerve cells. In this work, we show that the amino acid phenylalanine produces increased membrane permeability, which is likely responsible for some of the deleterious symptoms associated with high biological phenylalanine concentrations that occur with the genetic disorder phenylketonuria.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • 1,2-Dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine / metabolism
  • Cell Membrane Permeability*
  • Humans
  • Phenylalanine / chemistry*
  • Phenylketonurias / metabolism
  • Phenylketonurias / pathology
  • Ribose / metabolism
  • Unilamellar Liposomes / chemistry
  • Unilamellar Liposomes / metabolism

Substances

  • Unilamellar Liposomes
  • 1,2-Dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine
  • Phenylalanine
  • Ribose