Tetrahydrofolic acid

Tetrahydrofolic acid is a folic acid derivative.

Metabolism

Human synthesis

It is produced from dihydrofolic acid by dihydrofolate reductase. This reaction is inhibited by methotrexate.

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.