What is tetrahydrofolate used for?

Tetrahydrofolate is used to treat topical sprue and megaloblastic and macrocytic anemias, hematologic complications resulting from a deficiency in folic acid.

What enzyme uses tetrahydrofolate?

The folate analogues are powerful inhibitors of tetrahydrofolate dehydrogenase (or folate reductase), the enzyme which converts folate to the active tetrahydro derivative.

What is the role of tetrahydrofolate in amino acid metabolism?

Tetrahydrofolic acid (THF) acts as the carrier for one-carbon groups, necessary for many biosynthetic pathways such as amino acid and nucleic acid metabolism. Notably, THF is an essential precursor in the thymidine synthesis pathway.

What is serine and glycine?

Serine and glycine are biosynthetically linked, and together provide the essential precursors for the synthesis of proteins, nucleic acids, and lipids that are crucial to cancer cell growth. Moreover, serine/glycine biosynthesis also affects cellular antioxidative capacity, thus supporting tumour homeostasis.

Is tetrahydrofolate the same as folate?

Folate and folic acid are terms that identify vitamin B9. Folate actually refers to the tetrahydrofolate (THF) derivative found naturally in fresh fruits, vegetables and beans. Folate is a natural product. Folic acid is the oxidized synthetic form derived from petroleum and used in supplements, beverages and foods.

What is the role of tetrahydrofolate and S Adenosylmethionine?

The major folate present in mammalian cells is 5-methyl-tetrahydrofolate (5-MTHF), which provides methyl groups to the S-adenosylmethionine (SAM) cycle through the conversion of homocysteine (Hcy) to methionine [2]. SAM is the common cofactor in all cellular methyltransferase reactions.

How is tetrahydrofolate produced?

Tetrahydrofolic acid is produced from dihydrofolic acid by dihydrofolate reductase. This reaction is inhibited by methotrexate. It is converted into 5,10-methylenetetrahydrofolate by serine hydroxymethyltransferase.

What is the function of serine?

Serine is a polar amino acid that plays a fundamental role in plant metabolism, plant development, and cell signalling. In addition to being a building block for proteins, Serine participates in the biosynthesis of biomolecules such as amino acids, nucleotides, phospholipids, and sphingolipids.

What is the difference between folic acid and folinic acid?

Folinic acid (5-formyl tetrahydrofolate) is one active form in the group of vitamins known as folates. In contrast to folic acid (which is a synthetic form of folate), folinic acid is found naturally in foods. In the body, folinic acid can be converted into any of the other active forms of folate.

What is the role of glycine?

Glycine is precursor for a variety of important metabolites such as glutathione, porphyrins, purines, haem, and creatine. Glycine acts as neurotransmitter in central nervous system and it has many roles such as antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, cryoprotective, and immunomodulatory in peripheral and nervous tissues.

How is glycine converted to serine?

Metabolism. Conversion to serine: The glycine-cleavage system (glycine hydroxymethyltransferase, EC2. 1.2. 1) converts Gly into serine by one-carbon transfer from 5,10-methylenetetrahydrofolate (Figure 8.18).

Who should take folinic acid?

Folinic acid is a medication used in the treatment of various cancers in combination with 5-FU. It is also commonly used as an antidote to folic acid antagonists such as methotrexate. Folinic acid (leucovorin) is an antidote, chemotherapy modulating agent, and rescue agent for the chemotherapy class of medications.