Stevenson was sentenced to four years in prison for managing prostitutes and assault, but was released after 20 months. S tevenson was enraged by the La Presse story, though I have yet to find a press account in which he actually denied the details.
Genetic mutation. PKU is caused by a genetic mutation (change to the DNA) in the human phenylalanine hydroxylase (PAH) gene. There are many different types of mutations that can affect the PAH gene, all of which result in the body not producing a functioning PAH enzyme.
The PAH gene produces an enzyme that breaks down the amino acid phenylalanine. Mutations in the PAH gene can cause phenylketonuria (PKU), a disorder that can change cells in the brain.The faulty protein allows dangerously high levels of phenylalanine to accumulate in the brain, poisoning the cells.If a person with PKU consumes too much phenylalanine, the build-up can cause mental retardation.Keywords: faulty protein,phenylketonuria,phenylalanine,pah,mental retardation,amino acid,mutations,chromosome,pku,cells,brain.This work by Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License.aulty protein,phenylketonuria,phenylalanine,pah,mental retardation,amino acid,mutations,chromosome,pku,cells,brain. This work by Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License.