Question

From where does folate obtain its one-carbon units, and how does it differ from 1-carbon metabolism with Vitamin B12  (what kinds of reactions are the main ones involved)? Describe.

Answer 1

One carbon metabolism basically indicates that there will be a donation of carbon atom in variety of metabolic reaction.some of metabolic reactions which will need to carry out function in our body so we need a C-atom.and that has to be donated ,so it is going to do that ,it will be done at tetrahydrofolate.Sources of carbon in this process is serine,glycine,histidine,tryptophan.Te one carbo groups include methyl,methylene,formyl etc.

5,10-methyleneterahydrofolate is required for the synthesis of nucliec acids,and 5-methltetrahyrofolate is required for formation of methionine and homocystine .Methionine in the form of methyl donor S-adenosylmethionine(SAM),is essential to many biological methylation reactions.MTFHFR is a ribiflavin (FAD) - dependent enzyme catalyses reduction reactions in this process.