Book contents
- Frontmatter
- Contents
- List of contributors
- Preface
- Introduction
- 1 Serum and cellular retinoid-binding proteins
- 2 Retinoic acid receptors
- 3 Vitamin D receptors and the mechanism of action of 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3
- 4 Cobalamin binding proteins and their receptors
- 5 Folate binding proteins
- 6 Riboflavin carrier protein in reproduction
- 7 Binding proteins for α-tocopherol, L-ascorbic acid, thiamine amd vitamin B6
- 8 Biotin-binding proteins
- List of abbreviations
- Index
5 - Folate binding proteins
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 06 January 2010
- Frontmatter
- Contents
- List of contributors
- Preface
- Introduction
- 1 Serum and cellular retinoid-binding proteins
- 2 Retinoic acid receptors
- 3 Vitamin D receptors and the mechanism of action of 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3
- 4 Cobalamin binding proteins and their receptors
- 5 Folate binding proteins
- 6 Riboflavin carrier protein in reproduction
- 7 Binding proteins for α-tocopherol, L-ascorbic acid, thiamine amd vitamin B6
- 8 Biotin-binding proteins
- List of abbreviations
- Index
Summary
Prologue
In the decade since the first recognition of the existence of folic acid, a voluminous literature on this subject has arisen, of such extent and complexity that only the specialist in biochemistry can keep abreast of all its developments. As a member of the vitamin B complex, folic acid equals thiamine, riboflavin and niacin in importance, although its function as a constituent of this essential group has hitherto been to a large extent obscured by its extreme importance in the megaloblastic anemias. Other aspects of folic acid metabolism are now assuming prominence: its relation to other pteroylglutamic acids, to other vitamins and to liver extract; and the effect of the administration of the so-called “folic acid antagonists”.
This introduction to The Nutritional and Clinical Significance of Folic Acid was published in 1950 (Lederle Laboratories, 1950). It is a monograph of approximately 100 pages, with a bibliography of 367 items.
Indeed, there has been much interest in the folic acid antagonists: a literature search from 1966 to 1990 found over 12,000 citations for methotrexate alone. The purpose of this chapter, however, will not be to review folate biochemistry, folate-mediated reactions or the biochemistry of antifolates; there are a number of recent multivolume texts that accomplish this feat (Blakley & Benkovic, 1984; Sirotnak et al, 1984), but rather to update and discuss folate homeostasis with specific reference to a protein(s) which has a high affinity for folic acid and related compounds but no known enzyme activity.
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- Information
- Vitamin ReceptorsVitamins as Ligands in Cell Communication - Metabolic Indicators, pp. 106 - 136Publisher: Cambridge University PressPrint publication year: 1994
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