Levodopa-responsive aromatic L-amino acid decarboxylase deficiency.
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Chang YT, Sharma R, Marsh JL, McPherson JD, Bedell JA, Knust A, Brautigam C, Hoffmann GF, Hyland K
Levodopa-responsive aromatic L-amino acid decarboxylase deficiency.
Ann Neurol. 2004 Mar;55(3):435-8.
- PubMed ID
- 14991824 [ View in PubMed]
- Abstract
We report three siblings, who were treated empirically with levodopa combined with carbidopa. There was an immediate therapeutic response. Biochemical investigation surprisingly showed the clinical phenotype to be caused by aromatic L-amino acid decarboxylase deficiency. Molecular characterization showed a homozygous point mutation (c.387 G-->A) in exon 3. Kinetic studies showed the mutation to decrease the binding affinity for the substrate. This, combined with structural modeling suggesting alteration of active site configuration, provided an explanation for the therapeutic response to levodopa.