Amino Acids
Protein Precipitation
- Does not require titration with reducing sugar.
- Can be done by:
- Isoelectric method
- Salting in and salting out
- Using heavy metals
- Chromatographic methods
- Tricholoroacetic acid
- Alcohol precipitation
Amino Acids and Their Properties
Structure
- Central α-carbon attached to:
- Amino group (-NH₂)
- Carboxyl group (-COOH)
- Hydrogen
- Variable R group
- 20 standard amino acids
- differ by R group
- All are L-amino acids
- Ellarum L aanu
- except D-amino acids in bacterial cell walls
- Glycine:
- No chiral centre → optically inactive
Classification
By Side Chain
Group | Examples | Mnemonic / Note |
Aliphatic | Gly, Ala, Val, Leu, Ile | ALI → GALVI |
Branched | Val, Leu, Ile | VaLII |
OH-containing ↳ Helps with covalent modification ↳ Binds Phosphate | Ser, Thr, Tyr | Sthree → 3 ”Oh” → told by STHreee |
Sulfur-containing | Cys, Met | CM |
Acidic | Asp, Glu | AG |
Amides | Asn, Gln | Derivatives of AG |
Basic | Arg > Lys > His | His Lies Are basic |
Aromatic | Phe, Tyr, Trp | hTTP |
Imino | Proline | Pyrrolidine ring Ninhydrin test → Yellow |
Imidazole | Histidine | Buffer near pH 7 |
Sulphur containing
Cysteine | Methionine |
S bonded to 1 C (H–S–C) | S bonded to 2 C (C–S–C) |
Polar (–SH group) | Non-polar |
Non-essential AA | Essential AA |
Glucogenic AA | Glucogenic AA |
By Polarity
Polarity | Amino Acids | Notes |
Basic (Positive) | Arg > Lys > His | Arg = most basic; His uncharged at pH 7 |
Nonpolar | Ala, Val, Leu, Ile, Met, Phe, Trp, Pro | Isoleucine = most nonpolar I → Non Polar Pro ALVI Met Phe in a Trip al, le, la |
Polar (Uncharged) | Ser, Thr, Asn, Gln, Cys, Gly, Tyr | visited Polar → C STAG |
Acidic (Negative) | Aspartate, Glutamate | pKa ~4 |

ANS
2
By Nutritional Requirement
Type | Amino Acids | Mnemonic / Notes |
Essential | Phe, Val, Thr, Trp, Ile, Met, His, Leu, Lys | Valli () Met () Phe () in a Trip () → His () three (threonine) Lies (Lysine) |
Semi-essential | Arg, Tyr*, Cys* | Urge for Tyrions Sister → Semiessential |
Non-essential | All others | Asp, Glu = acidic non-essential |
Limiting Amino Acids
Food | LAA | Mnemonic |
Cereals | Threonine & lysine | • Cereals in Thali • Siri told 3 () lies () |
Maize | Tryptophan & lysine | • Maize → goes in Trolly • Maise is Tryps () of Lies () |
Pulses | Cysteine & methionine | • Pulses → PCM • Pulses for CM () |
By Metabolic Fate
Category | Amino Acids | ㅤ |
Glucogenic | All except Lys, Leu | ㅤ |
Ketogenic | • Phe, Ile, Tyr, Trp • Lys, Leu (only purely ketogenic) | Aromatic + Isoleucine, Leucine, Lysine |
Both | Phe, Ile, Tyr, Trp | I (Isoleucine) have smell (Aromatic) bcz I have both (Keto + Gluco) |
Amino acid derivatives
Amino Acid | Biogenic Amines / Derivatives | ㅤ |
Glycine | Sir () He () Created () Pure () Glittering () Salts () • Serine • Heme • Creatine • Purines (C4, C5, N7) • Bile salts • Glutathione • Collagen | • M/C AA in collagen • Simplest, optically inactive, flexible |
Histidine | Histamine | Decarboxylation reaction (Vit B6) |
Glutamic Acid | GABA (γ-aminobutyric acid) | Decarboxylation reaction (Vit B6) |
Cysteine | Glutathione, Taurine | Sister () Glu (Glutathione) tuuri (Taurine) |
Arginine | NO, Creatine, Ornithine, Urea Argentina ykk No (NO) creating (Creatinine) urea | • Most basic • NET → Neutrophil trap |
Tyrosine | • Thyroxine • Tyramine • Norepinephrine, Epinephrine • Dopamine • Melanin | Dope (Dopamine) Black (Melanin) Tyre () |
Tryptophan | • Serotonin • Melatonin • Niacin | Try () Nice (Niacin) Tonics (Sero, Melo) |
Lysine | • Cadaverine | Cadaver Lying |
Serine | Precursor to • Glycine, Cysteine, Selenocysteine | Phosphorylated by Protein kinases |
ㅤ | Forms • Phosphatidylserine, Choline, Betaine | Ser Beta (Betaine) ne Cola (choline) kudichenu Pottich (Phosphat) |
Lipotropic
- Choline, Lecithin, Methionine
- NOT Arginine
Creatine Synthesis:
- Requires 3 amino acids
- Arginine, glycine, methionine (as SAM donor)
- Create - 6 glizing metha
Glutathione (GSH)
- γ-glutamyl-cysteinyl-glycine (GSH)
- Tripeptide composed of:
- Glutamic acid + Cysteine + Glycine
- GSH + H2O2 → water + GS-SG (oxidised)
- via Glutathione peroxidase (dep on Selenocysteine)
- GS-SG (oxidised) → GSH (reduced)
- Regenerating Enzyme: Glutathione reductase (dep on Vit B2)
- Hydrogen source: NADPH.
- Peroxide Protects and Reductase replenishes/regenerates
- Functions
- Important antioxidant for RBCs.
- Free radical scavenger (Antioxidant role)
- Glutathione peroxidase
- Transport of ammonia
- via Meister’s cycle / Gamma-glutamyl cycle
- Conjugation of unconjugated bilirubin (detoxification reactions)??
- Coenzyme role
Derived Amino Acids
Selenium
- Daily requirement: 50–60 mcg/day
- Functions as an important antioxidant
- Selenocysteine:
- 21st amino acid
- Coded by UGA (Stop codon)
- Formed by co-translational modification
- Serine → Selenocysteine
- Found in:
- Glutathione peroxidase
- Protects against oxidative stress
- Thioredoxin reductase
- Redox balance in cells
- Glycine Reductase
- Deiodinase
- Thyroid hormone conversion: T4 → T3
- Selenoprotein P
- Transports selenium in plasma
- NOT GLUTATHIONE REDUCTASE (Dep on Vit B2)
- ”Mneumonic: Selena’s sister serena from UGAnda“
- "Selena glue thinnu diarrhea aayi"
- Pyrrolysine:
- 22nd Amino acid
- Coded by UAG
- From Lysine
- Both 21 22 due to cotranslational modification
- Stop Codons:
- UAA
- UGA (Selenocysteine)
- UAG (Pyrrolysine)
Disorders
ㅤ | Disorder | Features | Management |
Selenium deficiency | Keshan Disease | Dilated Cardiomyopathy, weakness, hypothyroidism | Selenium supplement |
Selenium Toxicity | Selenosis - Alkali disease in cattle - Blind staggers | Hair/nail loss, garlic breath, diarrhea | Remove exposure |
Derived
Seen in Proteins | Not Seen in Proteins |
Hydroxyproline, Hydroxylysine (Collagen) | Ornithine, Citrulline, Argininosuccinate |
γ-carboxyglutamate (Coagulation) [Vitmain K] | Homoserine, Homocysteine |
Methyllysine (Myosin), Desmosine (Elastin) | — |
Special Properties
Chirality
- All (except Glycine) are chiral
- Isoleucine, Threonine: have 2 chiral centers
- 2 centre for 3 () ice ()
Zwitter ion & Isoelectric Point
- Buffering = Solubility = K
- I shape → Precipitation
- S shape → Solubility
- With Single Ionizable groups

- With Multiple Ionizable groups

- All amino acids have atleast 2 functional ions
- So could be biprotic or triprotic
- NEVER Monoprotic
pK1 and pK2
- Points of maximal buffering capacity
At pH 7.4, exist as zwitterions:
- – NH₃⁺ and – COO⁻
pI (Isoelectric Point):
- Net charge = 0
- Point of minimal buffering capacity
- Precipitation ↑, Solubility ↓, Buffering ↓
- Basic AAs:
- High pI → +ve at pH 7
- His Lies Are Basic
- Acidic AAs:
- Low pI → –ve at pH 7
Buffering Capacity
- Histidine:
- Imidazole side chain → buffer near pH 7
Light Absorption at 280 nm
Amino Acid | Absorbs UV | ㅤ |
Tryptophan | Highest | d/t Indole group ↳ Also answer Aldehyde based tests |
Tyrosine | Moderate | ㅤ |
Phenylalanine | Lowest | ㅤ |
Protein Structure

Level | Description | Stabilizers | AA responsible | Methods |
Primary | A-A sequence | • Peptide bonds | ㅤ | • Sanger’s sequencing • Edman’s sequencing • Reverse sequencing |
Secondary | α-helix (M/c) β-sheet | • H-bonds | Glycine (β-turns) Proline (β-turns) | • Optical rotator dispersion • Ocular dichroism |
Tertiary | 3D folding | • H-bonds • Disulfide • Hydrophobic • Ionic | Cysteine | • X-ray crystallography • UV spectroscopy • NMR spectroscopy |
Quaternary | Multi-subunit ↳ α chain ↳ β chain | Same as tertiary | ㅤ | ㅤ |
- Glycine:
- Flexibility (β-turns)
- Proline:
- Kinks (β-turns)
- Cysteine:
- Disulfide bonds
- Mnemonic: Pro Kinks (Proline → Kinks) are Greatly Flexible (Glycine → Flexibility)
- Glycine and proline dont form alpha helix
- due to lack of hydrogen

Screening for IEM
- IOC / Gold standard: Tandem Mass Spectrometry:
- Blood spot
- Gas Chromatography - Mass Spectrometry:
- Fresh Urine
- High Performance Liquid chromatography/Electrophoresis:
- Plasma, urine
Urine Odour and Diagnosis
Urine Odor | Inborn Error of Metabolism |
Fruity | DKA |
Maple syrup | Maple syrup urine disease |
Swimming pool | Hawkinsinuria |
Cat urine | 3-Hydroxy-3-methylglutaric aciduria |
Oast house | Methionine Malabsorption / Beer baby syndrome |
Dried malt / hops like | Oasthouse syndrome |
Sweaty feet | Isovaleric acidemia |
Sweaty feet | Glutaric acidemia (type II) |
Boiled cabbage | Hypermethioninemia |
Cabbage | Tyrosinemia 1 |
Tomcat urine | Multiple carboxylase deficiency |
Mousy/Musty | Phenylketonuria |
Rotting fish | Trimethylaminuria aka Fish Odour Syndrome ↳ Avoid Choline ↳ Avoid cola with fishy smell |
- Homocystinuria
- Cystinuria
- Cystinosis
Homocystinuria
Enzyme Defect | Disorder |
MAT | Primary hypermethioninemia |
Cystathionine β-synthase | Classic homocystinuria |
Cystathionase | Cystathioninuria |
Methyline THF reductase | Non-classic homocystinuria |
Defect in methyl B₁₂ formation | Non-classic homocystinuria |






ㅤ | Type 1 → Classical | Type 2 → Non Classical |
Enzyme deficiency | Cystathionine Beta synthase Homocysteine + Serine → Cystathionine → Cysteine | Methionine synthase Homocysteine → Methionine |
Homocysteine | ↑↑ | ↑↑ |
Cysteine | ↓↓ | N |
Methionine | N | ↓↓ |
Treatment | • Responds to B6 • Cysteine supplementation | • Responds to B12 and folate • Methionine supplementation |
- A disorder characterized by:
- Fair complexion
- Accelerated atherosclerosis and thrombosis.
- Skeletal deformities
- flat foot
- Charlie Chaplin gait
- Marfanoid habitus
- Chest wall deformities
- Subluxation of eyes
- Inferomedial ectopia lentis
- Stroke episodes
- Hypercoagulable state
- Differentiate from Marfans by
- Fair complexion
- Inferomedial ectopia lentis
- Treatment:
- Pyridoxine, folic acid
- Restrict methionine
- Supplement cysteine
- Mnemonic: Pyramid (Pyridoxine supplementaion) nte mukalil keri thazhott (Inferomedial ectopia lentis) nokkum
- Mnemonic: Homocysteine → 6
- 6 x 1 (Type 1) = 6 (B6)
- 6 x 2 (Type 2) = 12 (B12)
Cause | Subluxation | ㅤ |
Blunt trauma | • M/c cause | ㅤ |
Marfan’s syndrome | • Superotemporal | FAN → Upper |
Homocystinuria | • Inferonasal | URINE → Infero |
Weill-Marchesani syndrome | • Anterior • Microspherophakia | March forward → Anterior |
- Fates of Homocysteine:
- Major fate (Conversion to Cysteine):
- Homocysteine + Serine → Cystathionine
- by Cystathionine Beta synthase (B6-dependent).
- Cystathionine → Cysteine
- Minor fate (Conversion to Methionine):
- Homocysteine → Methionine,
- by Methionine synthase.
- Dependent on Methyl B12,
- gets a methyl group from N5 Methyl THFA.


Differences Between Homocysteinuria & Marfan's Syndrome
- Fair complexion
- Seen in Homocysteinuria
- Not in Marfans
- (differentiates from Marfan)

Cystinuria
- Due to a defect in a neutral amino acid transporter in the PCT.
- Leads to decreased reabsorption of Cysteine, Ornithine, Lysine, Arginine (COLA)
- Only Sister → Urge to Lie
- Neutral COLA
- These amino acids are excreted in urine.
- Cysteine vs Cystine
- Cysteine → has a Cys-SH group.
- Two cysteine molecules → condense → form Cystine (disulfide bridge).
- Excess Cysteine forms insoluble Cystine
- Cystine is insoluble in urine.
- Accumulates in renal tubules.
- Leads to renal stones (cystine stones).
- Obstructive uropathy.

- Cystinuria in Urine detected with
- sodium cyanide nitroprusside test
- proton nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy
Cystinosis
- Kidney (Fanconi → Polyurea) + Eye (shimmery cystine crystals + Photophobia)
- A lysosomal storage disorder.
- Caused by defective efflux of Cysteine from lysosomes.
- Cysteine accumulates in lysosomes → Lysosomal degranulation →
- Acidic pH is released into tissues
- Leads to tissue degradation.
- Damage to the PCT causes
- Fanconi syndrome
- Glycosuria, aminoaciduria, phosphaturia.
- Bicarbonaturia, polyuria, polydipsia.
- Local tissue damage in the iris causes:
- Iris depigmentation.
- Photophobia.
- Slit lamp
- shimmery cystine crystals in cornea.

- Rx:
- Cysteamine
NOTE: Different Fanconis
ㅤ | ㅤ |
Fanconi disease/syndrome | • Proximal tubular reabsorption problem → Type 2 RTA • Glycosuria, aminoaciduria |
Fanconi anemia (Not syndrome) | • Pancytopenia + radial ray |
Fanconi Bickel syndrome | • Mutation in GLUT-2 • Bickel → Bi → 2 (GLUT 2) Defect in glucose sensing → ↓ insulin release • Postprandial Hyperglycemia. • Fasting Hypoglycemia • Glycogen accumulation disorder |


Holt - Oram (ASD + Radial Ray)
TAR (thrombocytopenia + absent radius)
Congenital torticollis → Cock robin position
Stranger things characters
- Dustin (Cleido cranial dysplasia)
- Robin (Cock robin position)
- Ray (Radial Ray) Hopper (Holt Oram ASD)
Q. A 12-year-old boy presented with photophobia, short stature, polyuria and polydipsia. Slit lamp examination of the cornea is shown in the image. The probable diagnosis is:
- A. Cystinuria
- B. Cystinosis
- C. Homocystinuria
- D. Hartnup's disease
Phenyl Alananine & Tyrosine
- Phenylalanine, Tyrosine, Tryptophan (Aromatic amino acids)
- absorb UV light at 280nm

- Phenyl Ketonuria
- Alkaptonuria
- Tyrosenemia
Q. A 20-year-old boy with severe mental retardation, mousy odour in body fluids, hypopigmentation. Patient has frequent episodes of seizures & aggressive behaviour. What is your diagnosis?
- A. Tyrosinemia
- B. Albinism
- C. MSUD
- D. Untreated PKU Phenylketonuria
ANS
Clinical presentation points to untreated phenylketonuria.
Q. A child presents with mental retardation, a characteristic odour and hypopigmentation along side is provided the result of Ferric chloride test that was done in his urine. The cause of the characteristic odour in the patient is:

- A. Benzoquinone acetate
- B. Phenyl pyruvate
- C. Phenyl Acetate
- D. Alpha hydroxy butyrate
- Phenyl Acetate
- Ass Smells
ANS
Phenylketonuria (PKU)






White guy → Fair skin
- Cause:
- Deficiency of phenylalanine hydroxylase
- Tyrosine becomes essential
- Clinical:
- Hypopigmentation (fair skin (Blond), blue eyes)
- D/t ↓↓ Tyrosine
- Intellectual disability
- by competing at BBB with other Neutral amino acids
- Seizures
- Mousy odor
- ↑↑ Phenyl acetate
- Ass smells
- Persistence of neurological symptoms
- after phenylalanine restriction → Non-classic PKU

- Lab
- IOC: TMS
- Positive Ferric chloride test
- d/t Phenylpyruvate
- Payaril () Iron (FeCl3) und
- put Iron (FeCl3) in Fire (Pyruvate)
- Guthrie’s test (Bacterial inhibition test) :
- Growth of Bacillus subtilis.
- Blood phenyl alanine levels
- Enzyme studies.

- Treatment:
- Phenylalanine restricted diet
- Synthetic tetrahydrobiopterin (THB)
- in Non-classic PKU
- Drug: Sapropterin dihydrochloride (Kuvan)
- Large neutral amino acids supplementation
- Tryptophan
- Tyrosine
Phenylalanine embryopathy
- ↑ phenylalanine levels in
- pregnant patients with untreated PKU
- Features:
- Fetal growth restriction,
- microcephaly,
- intellectual disability,
- congenital heart defects
- Prevention:
- Dietary measures in pregnant women with PKU
Tyrosine
Condition | Symptoms | Enzyme defect | ㅤ |
Tyrosinemia type II | Corneal ulcers, hyperkeratosis | TT | 2 T → Type 2 |
Tyrosinemia type III | Mental retardation | PHPP | 3 letter → Type 3 |
Alkaptonuria | Arthritis, black urine | Homogentisate oxidase | Blackaptonuria Black Human (Homoentisic acid)) |
Tyrosinemia type I | Liver and renal disease, cancer | Fumaryl acetoacetate Hydrolase | First → F |
Question:
- Q. An infant presented with watering of the eye, incessant cry and on observation tiny erosions were seen as shown in the image. The pediatrician also observed a rough palm in the infant. The probable diagnosis is
- A. Type 1 Tyrosinemia
- B. Type II Tyrosinemia
- C. Type III Tyrosinemia
- D. Alkaptonuria
- Spontaneous corneal erosions + Palmar hyperkeratosis
- indicate Occulocutaneous syndrome.
- Occulocutaneous syndrome is Type II Tyrosinemia.

Explanation:
Tyrosine Metabolism


- Phenylalanine hydroxylation becomes Tyrosine or Hydroxyphenylalanine.
- Pathway:


Type-1 tyrosinemia (hepato renal syndrome):
- Deficiency: Fumarylacetoacetate hydrolase.
- Fumarylacetoacetate ↑↑↑ → Succinyl acetone ↑
Succinyl acetone causes
- Hepatorenal syndrome
- Liver and parenchymal cells
- hypoglycemia
- Jaundice
- Hepatomegaly,
- liver cirrhosis,
- Hepatocellular carcinoma in young children
- Renal parenchymal cells:
- Initially causes Fanconi syndrome.
- Progresses to Chronic kidney disease.
- Inhibits delta ALA dehydratase.
- Causes accumulation of ALA, which is toxic to neurons.
- Patient presents with neuropsychiatric manifestations that mimic Porphyria (AIP)
Nitisinone:
- Niithi Pulasrtan vendi → induce type 3 Tyrosinemia in Type 1 to avoid HCC
- ⛔ Para Hydroxy phenylpyruvate dioxygenase.
- Indication for Type 1 Tyrosinemia:
- Prevents formation of fumarylacetoacetate.
- Succinylacetone will not accumulate.
- Prevents decompensated liver disease or Hepatocellular carcinoma.
- Also for
- Hawkinsinuria
- Alkaptonuria.
Type-II tyrosinemia
(Occulo cutaneous syndrome, Richner-Hanhart syndrome):

- Deficiency: Tyrosine transaminase.
- Mnemonic: Type 2 → 2 Ts (Tyrosine Transaminase)→ 2 eyes
- Cutaneous: Palmar hyperkeratosis.
- Palmoplantar Keratoderma seen in
- Pityriasis Rubra Pilaris
- Type 2 tyrosinemia
- Arsenic poisoning
- Ocular:
- Painful corneal erosion
- Corneal ulcers : Poorly stained with fluorescein.

Type-III tyrosinemia:
- Deficiency: Para Hydroxy phenylpyruvate dioxygenase.
- Mnemonic: 3P → PPP
- Loss of function mutation
- causes Type 3 Tyrosinemia.
- Features: Recurrent seizures, intermittent ataxia.
- Gain of function mutation
- Partially active PHPP
- causes hawkinsinuria → Swimming pool odour
Alkaptonuria (Black urine disease):



- Mnemonic
- HAO Blackaptonuria.
- Black human → Homogensic acid
- Deficiency: Homogentisate oxidase.
- Homogentisic acid ↑↑ → benzoquinone acetate → polymerizes →
melanin-like fibrils / alkapton bodies
Fibrils accumulate :
- Skin:
- Pigmentation of
- pinna, nose tip, thenar/hypothenar eminence,
- mucus membrane.
- Eye (Osler's sign):
- Black/brown pigmentation
- along the attachment line of medial and lateral rectus
- (first sign).

- Cartilage:
- Causes cartilage destruction.
- This leads to ochronosis / Ochronotic arthritis.
- Intervertebral disc calcification,
- Features:
- Multiple joint involvement,
- multiple intervertebral disc bulges.
- Bamboo spine.
- Vacuum phenomenon (Air space in vertebra).

- Fibrils also accumulate in urine.
- Urine turns dark on standing (first symptom).

- Treatment: Nitisinone
- It ⛔ Para Hydroxy phenylpyruvate dioxygenase.
- Homogentisic acid does not accumulate.
note: Ochronosis:
- seen in alkaptonuria, Hydroquinone, Carbolic acid ingestion
- IV disc calcification



note: Garrod’s tetrad
- Cystinuria
- Alkaponuria
- Albinism
- Pentosuria
Albinism

- Defect: Defect in tyrosinase
- copper-containing enzyme

- Mnemonic White tyre ( Albinism tyrosinase )
Features:
- Milky white skin & hair
- Photophobia
- Lacrimation
- Increased skin cancer risk
- Nystagmus
Treatment:
- Sun protection, visual aids
Tryptophan

Derivatives of Tryptophan

- Drug causing Pellagra acting via Tryptophan
- Isoniazid > Oral contraceptives
- Induces Vitamin B6 deficiency → ↓Niacin → pellagra.
- Azathioprine, 6-MP, 5-FU:
- Inhibit tryptophan → niacin conversion → Pellagra
- 5, 6 Azad → Dont trty to be nice (Try ⇏ Niacin)
Carcinoid Syndrome
- Carcinoids are tumors of neuroendocrine cells
- Argentaffin cells / Kulchitsky cells of crypts of Leiberkuhn
- Present in
- Intestine
- Brain
- Platelets
- ↑↑ Serotonin → ↓Niacin
- Most common site
- Ileum > appendix (Tip) > jejunum
- Most common tumor of the appendix
- If liver metastasis (+) in Carcinoid tumor
- ⇒ ↓↓ metabolism of serotonin
- ⇒ Carcinoid syndrome (+)
- Clinical Features
- Serotonin enters circulation → Bronchospasm.
- Features of pellagra
- Intermittent diarrhea
- Cutaneous flushing (m/c symptom)
- go to bathroom and repeated flush (Cutaneous flushing)
- Sweating
- Abdominal pain, sweating.
- Right heart valve involved:
- Tricuspid Valve (m/c).
- Investigations
- 24-hr urinary 5-HIAA ↑ (5-Hydroxy indole acetic acid)
- Blood: Serum chromogranin.
- Imaging:
- CECT
- Serotonin receptor Scintigraphy (localise tumour)
- Management
- Ki67: Proliferation Index marker.
- Sx f/b Ki67 → ↑ levels:
- Malignant NET → Require Chemo Rx.
Hartnup’s Disease
- Hari - SSLC (SLC) kku padichapo "Ente monne pee-chi blue aayi!
- Doctor paranju Hartnup aanennu! Tryptophan escape aakunnu apparently!"
- Mutation
- SLC6A19 mutation (Chr.5)
- Transporter is in enterocytes and PCT cells.
- Defect:
- defective Neutral AA transporter
- defective tryptophan transporter
↓
↓ Tryptophan absorption from the intestine and reabsorption in the kidney
↓
↓ Tryptophan
↓ Serotonin
↓ Niacin = Niacin deficiency = Pellagra like rash
indoxyl compounds in intestine
↓
Blue diaper syndrome - Due to indican (indoxyl sulfate) in urine
↓
Obermeyer test (indoxyl in urine)
↓
Blue diaper syndrome - Due to indican (indoxyl sulfate) in urine
↓
Obermeyer test (indoxyl in urine)
- ↓ Tryptophan → ↓ Serotonin & ↓ Niacin
- (60 mg tryptophan → 1 mg niacin)
- Clinical Features
- Asymptomatic (mostly)
- Cutaneous photosensitivity (m/c symptom)
- Accumulation of tryptophan in intestine → bacterial decomposition → indoxyl compounds → Indoles absorbed → excreted in urine as → bluish discoloration of diaper
- Ataxia
- Wide-based gait
- Test
- Obermeyer test
- indoxyl in urine
- Diagnosis:
- HPLC
- Neutral aminoaciduria
- Treatment
- Niacin, high protein diet
- Lipid soluble tryptophan esters
Revise Epilepsy
Epilepsy | Characteristic EEG |
GTCS | DOC • Phenytoin, Valproate |
Absence / Petit mal | • Spike & wave (dome) pattern • 3 Hz spikes DOC • Ethosuximide, Valproate • Absent? → Ethuvo ? (Ethosuximide) |
Infantile spasms | • Hypsarrhythmia Age • < 1 years DOC • without tuberous sclerosis: ACTH, Prednisolone • with tuberous sclerosis: Vigabatrin |
Juvenile myoclonic Epilepsy (Janz) | • 4–6 Hz polyspikes & slow wave discharge • JME → JANZ S → 4-5 letters → 4 - 6 Hz polyspikes, slow Age • 10 - 19 years DOC • Valproate |
Lennox Gastaut syndrome | • Slow (<3 Hz) spike wave complex • LGS → < 3Hz spike complex DOC • Valproate, Lamotrigine |
Hepatic encephalopathy | • Triphasic wave {- wave → +ve wave → - wave} |
1. SSPE → 8 years age 2. HIE 3 3. Comatose → (drug/severe hypothermia) | • Burst suppression |
Prion disease (Kuru) | • Periodic sharp wave complexes Age • 35 years |
HSV encephalitis | • Periodic lateralized epileptiform discharge • Affects temporal lobes • DOC: IV Acylovir • HSV → His Wife → Like temples (Period late) |
SSLC / SCENE Genes
SCN/SLC | Disease | Features |
SLC6A19 | Hartnup’s Disease (Chr 5) 6 days Hearty trip | • Defect of tryptophan transporter • Cutaneous photosensitivity (m/c symptom) • Obermeyer test → indoxyl in urine Accumulation of tryptophan in intestine → bacterial decomposition → indoxyl compounds → Indoles absorbed → excreted in urine as indoxyl sulfate→ bluish discoloration of diaper |
SLC2A1 | GLUT 1 defect SSLC → 2 times → bcz brain hypoglycemia | ↓ CSF glucose → seizures ↳ Rx: Pure ketogenic diet |
SCN1A | Dravet syndrome ↳ defective Nav1.1 Na channel ↳ ⛔ GABA | Seizures ↳ DOC: Valproate |
SCN5A (Loss of function) | Brugada syndrome ↳ defective Cardiac Na channel 1 Dragon drank 5 Bru | Brutal (Brugada) scene (SCN5A) guy like me (pseudo RBB) → drinking soda (Na channelopathy) → sudden seizure and death () Broad P wave → Long PQ seg → raised J point → coved ST → T inversion |
SCNN1B/G genes | Liddle Syndrome ↳ Defect: ENaC channel | • AD inheritance • Hypertension + Pseudoaldosteronism • Hypokalemic metabolic alkalosis |
Anti GM1 Antibody | Guillain Barre Syndrome (AIDP) | • Albumino-cytological dissociation • Earliest sign: Distal areflexia. • Bladder and bowel spared. • Bilateral ascending symmetrical flaccid paralysis. • Brighton Criteria for GBS |
Anti GQ1 Antibody. | Miller Fisher Fish vangan Que nikkanam | Triad • Ophthalmoplegia (3rd nerve palsy). • Areflexia. • Ataxia. |
anti P/Q antibody | Lambert Eaton Syndrome Eat 3, 4 Amino acid (3,4 aminopyridine) → gain strength → ↑↑ response | • Pre-junctional ↓↓ release of Ach at NMJ • Oat cell cancer lung → Paraneoplastic • Repetitive nerve stimulation test: ↳ Incremental response Treatment: • DOC: 3,4 aminopyridine • Pyridostigmine |