Цветы для Элджернона
PROGRESS REPORT 13
Itwaschallenging,andmystorehouseofgeneralknowledgemadeiteasyformetotalkaboutalmostanything.ButafterawhileIcouldseethatNemurwasannoyedatalltheattentionIwasgetting.
WhenanattractiveyoungclinicianfromFalmouthCollegeaskedmeifIcouldexplainsomeofthecausesofmyownretardation,ItoldherthatProfessorNemurwasthemantoanswerthat.
Itwasthechancehehadbeenwaitingfortoshowhisauthority,andforthefirsttimesincewe’dknowneachotherheputhishandonmyshoulder."Wedon’tknowexactlywhatcausesthetypeofphenylketonuriathatCharliewassufferingfromasachild—someunusualbiochemicalorgeneticsituation,possiblyionizingradiationornaturalradiationorevenavirusattackonthefetus—whateveritwasresultedinadefectivegenewhichproducesa,shallwesay,’maverickenzyme’thatcreatesdefectivebiochemicalreactions.And,ofcourse,newlyproducedaminoacidscompetewiththenormalenzymescausingbraindamage."
Thegirlfrowned.Shehadnotexpectedalecture,butNemurhadseizedthefloorandhewentoninthesamevein."Icallitcompetitiveinhibitionofenzymes.Letmegiveyouanexampleofhowitworks.Thinkoftheenzymeproducedbythedefectivegeneasawrongkeywhichfitsintothechemicallockofthecentralnervoussystem—butwon’tturn.Becauseit’sthere,thetruekey—therightenzyme—can’tevenenterthelockIt’sblocked.Result?Irreversibledestructionofproteinsinthebraintissue."
