Open AccessBiochemical and Molecular Studies of Human Methenyltetrahydrofolate Synthetase
Author(s) -
Jolivet Jacques,
Dayan Alain,
Beauchemin Myriam,
Chahla Dounia,
Mamo Aline,
Bertrand Richard
Publication year - 1996
Publication title -
stem cells
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.159
H-Index - 229
eISSN - 1549-4918
pISSN - 1066-5099
DOI - 10.1002/stem.140033
Subject(s) - biology , genetics , computational biology , evolutionary biology
5‐FormylH 4 folate is administered clinically under the name Leucovorin ™ in association with the antineoplastic agent 5‐fluorouracil (5‐FU) to enhance the cytotoxic effects of 5‐FU. The combination has been shown to be superior to 5‐FU alone in the treatment of patients with metastatic colorectal carcinoma. Methenyltetrahydrofolate synthetase (MTHFS) catalyzes the transformation of 5‐formyltetrahydrofolate to methenylH 4 folate, which is the obligatory initial metabolic step prior to the intracellular conversion of 5‐formylH 4 folate to other reduced folates and the increase in intracellular folate pools required for 5‐FU potentiation. In the following paper, we will summarize results of biochemical and molecular studies of human MTHFS.