PKU

Questions

1. What enzyme is most commonly defective in people with phenylketonuria?

PKU occurs when a person inherits a genetic mutation that disrupts the function of a crucial metabolic enzyme (PAH.) 

2. What reaction does this enzyme catalyze? (What is the substrate and what product is produced?)

This is an example of how a block occurs.  This causes a build up of PHe due to the lack of tyrosine.

3. Describe the symptoms of phenylketonuria.

• Delayed mental and social skills
• Head size significantly below normal
• Hyperactivity
• Jerking movements of the arms or legs
• Mental retardation
• Seizures
• Skin rashes
• Tremors
• Unusual positioning of hands

4. What causes the symptoms of PKU, the lack of a substance or the buildup of one?

It is the build up of substances. These substances are harmful to the central nervous system and cause brain damage.

5. How common is phenylketonuria? How is it treated?
 1 in 10000 have it, it is mainly found in Caucasians and east Asains.  It is hardly ever found in African Americans.  Treatment involves a diet that is extremely low in phenylalanine, particularly when the child is growing. 

Lactose intolerant research project

Here is the link where I found my information.

First we will start out with, what dose it mean. Or what is lactose intolerant?
Lactose intolerant is basically an intolerance to the sugar lactose.  Lactose sugar is found in milk and other milk products.  It is caused by a deficiency of the enzyme lactose.  Which is produced by cells in the smaller intestine.  These enzymes break lactose sugars down into simpler sugars like glucose.  A lot of people that are lactose intolerant, can stand to have some in there diet.

What causes lactose intolerance?
It starts to develop after the age of two.  Then the body starts to produce less lactose.  Most kids who are lactose intolerant, don't get the symptoms of it until a later age of adult hood.  Some people inherit this from there parents genes.  It can also be caused by damage to the small intestine.  Some illness's and other things can effect the way that your intestine works.

What are the symptoms of lactose intolerance?
The symptoms can last for 30 mins to 2 hours, of pains anywhere form mild to sever after drinking or eating a lactose product.

Common symptoms included

*abdominal pain
*abdominal bloating
*gas
*diarrhea
*nausea

How is lactose intolerance managed?
A big factor to managing this is a diet.  People with this intolerance can stand some milk products, but it has to be gradual.  It also helps to digest it with some food.  This all helps to limit the symptoms, and can help eliminate them.  There is no way of getting rid of it, just ways of being wary of it.  This diet has to be figured out by the person, because it acts different for everyone.  Such as some people can drink a small glass of milk and have symptoms even up to sever.  While others can drink a large glass and be just fine.  It just depends on who you are and how your body can digest the amount of lactose you consume.

enzyme lab

prezi on enzyme lab.