Biology 382 - papers related to project 1, Spring 2010

The Aromatic Amino Acid Hydroxylase (AAH) genes in C. elegans - these proteins encoded by these genes require reduced biopterin (BH4) to function to make serotonin, dopamine and tyrosine. The papers indicated below are the first and/or key descriptions of these genes and their functions.

Directory with papers

Tryptophan Hydroxylase - TPH (gene: tph-1)
Sze et al., 2000

Tyrosine Hydroxylase - TH (gene: cat-2)
Lints et al., 1999

Phenylalanine Hydroxylase - PAH (gene: pah-1)
Loer et al., 1999 (no PDF available, see web version
Calvo et al., 2008

A general review of BH4-dependent AAHs: Fitzpatrick, 1999

Short chain dehydrogenase/reductase (DHS/SDR) proteins - include enzymes known to reduce pterins. C. elegans has a plethora of genes encoding predicted SDRs, at least one of which may substitute for the missing sepiapterin reductase (SR) in BH4 synthesis.

Review of SDRs - Opperman et al., 2003

SDRs in sequenced genomes: Kallberg et al., 2002

Crystal structure of a sepiapterin reductase (with other useful info): Auerbach et al., 1997

Humans with sepiapterin reductase deficiency reveal other SDR/ADHs can function like SR: Bonafe et al., 2001

BH4-responsive PAH deficiency in humans: Matalon et al., 2004

Review of BH4-responsive PAH deficiency in humans: Blau & Erlandsen, 2004

Human mutations in GCH & PTPS: Thony & Blau, 1997

Some papers on RNA Interference (RNAi) in C. elegans:

A nice review: Piano, 2002

Genome-wide RNAi in C. elegans: Kamath et al., 2003

Bacterial feeding technique for RNAi in C. elegans: Timmons et al., 2001