TETRAHYDROFOLATE (THF)
- Metabolically active derivate of folate (B vitamin)
- Folate sources: Vegetables
– Broccoli, spinach, peas, beans, beets and sunflower seeds
- THF carries: methyl, methylene, methenyl and formyl group
- THF carries carbons on N5 and/or N10 of its pteridine ring
- Dihydrofolate reductase: Folate --> Dihydrofolate --> Tetrahydrofolate
(each step requires NADPH + H+)
- 3 major pathways: amino acid synthesis, purine synthesis & thymidine synthesis