Target type: biologicalprocess
The chemical reactions and pathways resulting in the formation of folic acid and its derivatives. [GOC:ai]
Folic acid-containing compound biosynthesis is a complex metabolic process involving the production of tetrahydrofolate (THF), the active form of folic acid. THF is essential for numerous metabolic reactions, including nucleotide biosynthesis, amino acid metabolism, and the synthesis of myelin. The process begins with the reduction of dihydrofolate (DHF) to THF by the enzyme tetrahydrofolate reductase (THF reductase). DHF is generated from dihydrofolic acid (DHFA), which is formed from the dietary folate. DHFA is converted to DHF by dihydrofolate reductase. THF reductase is a key enzyme in this process, and its activity is tightly regulated. This enzyme is inhibited by certain drugs, such as methotrexate, which are used in the treatment of cancer and autoimmune diseases. Once THF is formed, it can participate in a variety of metabolic reactions. For example, THF is required for the synthesis of purines and pyrimidines, which are the building blocks of DNA and RNA. THF is also essential for the synthesis of methionine, which is an important amino acid. Additionally, THF is required for the synthesis of serine, which is a precursor to glycine, another important amino acid. The synthesis of THF from dietary folate is a critical process for maintaining human health. Deficiencies in folate can lead to a variety of health problems, including megaloblastic anemia, neural tube defects, and heart disease. The process of folic acid-containing compound biosynthesis can be summarized as follows: 1) Dietary folate is taken up by the body. 2) Dietary folate is converted to dihydrofolic acid (DHFA). 3) DHFA is reduced to dihydrofolate (DHF) by dihydrofolate reductase. 4) DHF is reduced to tetrahydrofolate (THF) by tetrahydrofolate reductase. 5) THF is used in a variety of metabolic reactions.'
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| Protein | Definition | Taxonomy |
|---|---|---|
| 2-amino-4-hydroxy-6-hydroxymethyldihydropteridine pyrophosphokinase | A 2-amino-4-hydroxy-6-hydroxymethyldihydropteridine pyrophosphokinase that is encoded in the genome of Escherichia coli K-12. [PRO:DNx, UniProtKB:P26281] | Escherichia coli K-12 |
| Dihydropteroate synthase | A dihydropteroate synthase that is encoded in the genome of Escherichia coli K-12. [PRO:DNx, UniProtKB:P0AC13] | Escherichia coli K-12 |
| Dihydrofolate synthase/folylpolyglutamate synthase | A dihydrofolate synthase/folylpolyglutamate synthase that is encoded in the genome of Escherichia coli K-12. [PRO:DNx, UniProtKB:P08192] | Escherichia coli K-12 |
| Compound | Definition | Classes | Roles |
|---|---|---|---|
| sulfamethoxazole | sulfamethoxazole : An isoxazole (1,2-oxazole) compound having a methyl substituent at the 5-position and a 4-aminobenzenesulfonamido group at the 3-position. Sulfamethoxazole: A bacteriostatic antibacterial agent that interferes with folic acid synthesis in susceptible bacteria. Its broad spectrum of activity has been limited by the development of resistance. (From Martindale, The Extra Pharmacopoeia, 30th ed, p208) | isoxazoles; substituted aniline; sulfonamide; sulfonamide antibiotic | antibacterial agent; antiinfective agent; antimicrobial agent; drug allergen; EC 1.1.1.153 [sepiapterin reductase (L-erythro-7,8-dihydrobiopterin forming)] inhibitor; EC 2.5.1.15 (dihydropteroate synthase) inhibitor; environmental contaminant; epitope; P450 inhibitor; xenobiotic |
| sulfathiazole | sulfathiazole : A 1,3-thiazole compound having a 4-aminobenzenesulfonamido group at the 2-position. Sulfathiazole: A sulfathiazole compound that is used as a short-acting anti-infective agent. It is no longer commonly used systemically due to its toxicity, but may still be applied topically in combination with other drugs for the treatment of vaginal and skin infections, and is still used in veterinary medicine. | 1,3-thiazoles; substituted aniline; sulfonamide; sulfonamide antibiotic | antiinfective agent; drug allergen; EC 2.5.1.15 (dihydropteroate synthase) inhibitor; environmental contaminant; xenobiotic |
| isocytosine | 2-amino-4-hydroxypyrimidine : An aminopyrimidine in which the pyrimidine ring bears amino and hydroxy substituents at positions 2 and 4, respectively. | aminopyrimidine; pyrimidine nucleobase; pyrimidone | |
| isoguanine | isoguanine : An oxopurine that is 3,7-dihydro-purin-2-one in which the hydrogen at position 6 is substituted by an amino group. isoguanine: structure | oxopurine | |
| thioguanine anhydrous | Thioguanine: An antineoplastic compound which also has antimetabolite action. The drug is used in the therapy of acute leukemia. tioguanine : A 2-aminopurine that is the 6-thiono derivative of 2-amino-1,9-dihydro-6H-purine. Incorporates into DNA and inhibits synthesis. Used in the treatment of leukaemia. | 2-aminopurines | anticoronaviral agent; antimetabolite; antineoplastic agent |
| dihydrofolate | dihydrofolic acid : A folic acid derivative acted upon by dihydrofolate reductase to produce tetrahydrofolic acid. It interacts with bacteria during cell division and is targeted by various drugs to prevent nucleic acid synthesis. | dihydrofolic acids | Escherichia coli metabolite; mouse metabolite |
| guanine | 2-aminopurines; oxopurine; purine nucleobase | algal metabolite; Escherichia coli metabolite; human metabolite; mouse metabolite; Saccharomyces cerevisiae metabolite | |
| 8-methylguanine | 8-methylguanine: structure given in first source | ||
| 2-amino-6-hydroxy-8-mercaptopurine |