[Effect of folic acid deficiency on the synthesis of pteroylpolyglutamates].

Abstract

In order to evaluate the effect of folate deficiency on pteroylpolyglutamate synthesis in rat liver, the hepatic and urinary content of reduced folates, the distribution of pteroylpolyglutamates and the incorporation of i.p. injected 3H folic acid in polyglutamates have been studied. In deficient rats the hepatic content of reduced folates and the urinary amounts of reduced metabolites are lower and do not increase after vitamin treatment. Longer chain pteroylpolyglutamates are severely depleted and their content is not significantly modified by folic acid treatment. The percentage of labelled folic acid incorporated into pteroylglutamates is markedly decreased. The inability of deficient rat liver to synthesize polyglutamates might be ascribed to the decrease of pteroylpolyglutamate synthetase activity, and/or to the lower availability of tetrahydrofolates, the preferred substrates for the enzyme.

• Authors: G Formiggini, C Bovina, B Tolomelli, M Marchetti
• Journal: Acta vitaminologica et enzymologica (Acta Vitaminol Enzymol) Vol. 5 Issue 4 Pg. 225-8 ( 1983) ISSN: 0300-8924 [Print] Italy
• Vernacular Title: Effetto della carenza di acido folico sulla sintesi degli pteroilpoliglutamati.
• PMID: 6689514 (Publication Type: English Abstract, Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Pteroylpolyglutamic Acids
• Folic Acid
• gamma-Glutamyl Hydrolase

Topics

• Animals
• Folic Acid (analogs & derivatives, urine)
• Folic Acid Deficiency (metabolism)
• Liver (metabolism)
• Male
• Pteroylpolyglutamic Acids (biosynthesis)
• Rats
• Rats, Inbred Strains
• gamma-Glutamyl Hydrolase (metabolism)