Tetrahydrofolic acid
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Template:Chembox new Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]
Overview
Tetrahydrofolic acid is a folic acid derivative.
Metabolism
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.
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.