hypothalamic nucleus [Tang-Christensen et al., 2000]. Our second top SNP is associated with the PAH gene which codes for the enzyme phenylalanine hydroxylase [Scriver, 2007]. Phenylalanine hydroxylase is responsible for the conversion of phenylalanine to tyrosine. Phenylalanine is found in all proteins and some artificial sweeteners. Mutations in the PAH gene are most commonly associated with phenylketonuria (PKU), an inherited disorder which increases levels of phenylalanine in the blood [Erlandsen et al., 2003].
