folate metabolism

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Introduction

Metabolism of folate centers about tetrahydrofolate which is involved two different metabolic pathways:

Tetrahydrofolate (THF) is an activated carrier of one carbon units.

Other carriers included S-adenosylmethionine (SAM, a carrier of -CH3) & biotin (a carrier of -CO2).

The carbon carried by THF is bound to N5 or N10 of THF or both.

The most reduced form carries a -CH3 group; the intermediate form carries a methylene group; the most oxidized forms carry a methenyl, formyl or formino group.

The one carbon units carried by THF are interconvertible.

The THF derivatives serve as methyl donors in a variety of biosyntheses:

* see figure

Biochemistry

More general terms

Additional terms

References

  1. Stryer Biochemistry WH Freeman & Co, New York, 1988 pg 580, 614