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| Tetrahydrofolic acid | |
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| Identifiers | |
| CAS number | [29347-89-5] |
| PubChem | |
| MeSH | |
| Properties | |
| Molecular formula | C19H23N7O6 |
| Molar mass | 445.43 g/mol |
| Except where noted otherwise, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C, 100 kPa) Infobox disclaimer and references |
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Tetrahydrofolic acid is a folic acid derivative.
Contents |
Metabolism
Human synthesis
It is produced from dihydrofolic acid by dihydrofolate reductase. This reaction is inhibited by trimethoprim.
It is converted into 5,10-methylenetetrahydrofolate by serine hydroxymethyltransferase.
Bacterial synthesis
Many bacteria use dihydropteroate synthetase to produce dihydropteroate in bacteria, an enzyme without function in humans. This makes it a useful target for sulfonamide antibiotics, which compete with the PABA precursor.
Functions
It is a coenzyme in many reactions, especially in the metabolism of amino acids and nucleic acids. It acts as a donor of a group with one carbon atom. It gets this carbon atom by sequestering formaldehyde produced in other processes. A shortage in THF can cause anemia.
Tetrahydrofolic acid is reduced by the drug methotrexate, which is used to impair nucleotide synthesis. This drug is a potent chemotherapy and anti rheumatic.
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