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Tetrahydrofolic acid

Tetrahydrofolic acid

Identifiers
CAS number	29347-89-5
PubChem	1129
MeSH	5,6,7,8-tetrahydrofolic+acid
Properties
Molecular formula	C₁₉H₂₃N₇O₆
Molar mass	445.43 g/mol
Except where noted otherwise, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C, 100 kPa) Infobox disclaimer and references

Tetrahydrofolic acid is a folic acid derivative.

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Metabolism

It is produced from dihydrofolic acid by dihydrofolate reductase. This reaction is inhibited by trimethoprim.

It is converted into 5,10-methylenetetrahydrofolate by serine hydroxymethyltransferase.

Functions

It is a coenzyme in many reactions, especially in the metabolism of amino acids and nucleic acids. It acts as a donor of a group with one carbon atom. It gets this carbon atom by sequestering formaldehyde produced in other processes. A shortage in THF can cause anemia.

v • d • e Types of enzyme cofactors
Coenzymes	NAD⁺ - NADP⁺ - Coenzyme A - Tetrahydrofolic acid - Menaquinone - Ascorbic acid - Coenzyme F420 - Adenosine triphosphate - S-Adenosyl methionine - 3'-Phosphoadenosine-5'-phosphosulfate - Coenzyme Q - Tetrahydrobiopterin - Cytidine triphosphate - Glutathione - Coenzyme M - Coenzyme B - Methanofuran - Tetrahydromethanopterin
Prosthetic groups: Organic group	Flavin mononucleotide - Flavin adenine dinucleotide - Pyrroloquinoline quinone - Pyridoxal phosphate - Biotin - Methylcobalamin - Cobamamide - Thiamine pyrophosphate - Heme - Molybdopterin - Lipoic acid
Prosthetic groups: Metals	Calcium - Copper - Iron - Magnesium - Manganese - Nickel - Zinc