Abstract #2549

Bargon J, Rizi R, Heinrich H, Bommerich U

L-Phenylalanine (PHE) is hydroxylated in the human body to L-tyrosine (TYR) by phenylalanine hydroxylase (PAH). Therefore, both PHE and TYR can be components of artificial nutrition and are approved for infusions or injections. TYR is eventually converted into L-DOPA and decarboxylated to L-dopamine (DA). A shortage of DA causes Parkinson's Disease. We have generated 1H- and 13C-hyperpolarized PHE and other hyperpolarized amino acids from appropriate precursors via Parahydrogen Induced Polarization (PHIP) both in their true (L) and false (R) chiral form. This allows studying the different chiral isomers individually, serving as magnetically labeled molecular probe in combination with PHIP-enhanced MRI.