The major function of folate is that it participates in 1-carbon metabolism. As described earlier, this is the transfer of 1-carbon units from 1 compound to another. The cofactor form of folate is tetrahydrofolate (THF). As is shown in the figure below, in order for THF to be formed, a methyl group is transferred to cobalamin (vitamin B12) from 5-methyl THF (THF plus a methyl group), forming methyl-cobalamin. You can see this on the left side of the figure below.

Figure 11.111 One-carbon metabolism

There are 2 major cofactor functions of THF¹:

1. DNA Synthesis

THF is required for the synthesis of DNA bases (purines and pyrimidines)¹. As shown in the link below, N10-formyl-THF (a form of THF) is needed in 2 reactions (3 and 9) in purine synthesis.

2. Amino Acid Metabolism

THF is a cofactor for enzymes that metabolize histidine, serine, glycine, and methionine¹. The following link shows that THF is a cofactor for serine hydroxymethyltransferase, the enzyme that converts serine to glycine.

References & Links

1. Gropper SS, Smith JL, Groff JL. (2008) Advanced nutrition and human metabolism. Belmont, CA: Wadsworth Publishing.

Links

Purine Synthesis – http://themedicalbiochemistrypage.org/images/purinesynthesis.jpg

Serine to Glycine – http://themedicalbiochemistrypage.org/images/glycine-synthesis.jpg