Tetrahydrofolic acid

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.

Tetrahydrofolsäure