Phosphorylase Enzyme of Brain in Mental Illness

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Abstract
THE PHOSPHORYLASE ENZYME which catalyzes the conversion of glycogen to glucose-1-phosphate has become implicated recently in some important biochemical and physiological functions of the organism, eg, contraction of the heart,1,2 production of the corticoids by the adrenal cortex,3,4 etc. These and some other biochemical and pharmacological phenomena have suggested possible involvement of the phosphorylase enzyme of the brain in the synthesis of norepinephrine.5 If such is the case, the effect on the phosphorylase enzyme would affect the transmission of nerve impulses, and, hence, mental phenomena. Investigation was begun, therefore, to search for substances which affected the enzyme level of the brain in vivo. The work which has been done so far is a preliminary study in an attempt to substantiate the hypothesis. This communication is not intended to offer proof of the hypothesis. Nevertheless, results obtained suggested a correlation between the phosphorylase enzyme and mental illness. This