dihidrofolic

Dihidrofolic acid, often abbreviated as DHF, is a crucial intermediate in the metabolic pathway of folate. It is a derivative of folic acid, also known as vitamin B9. In biological systems, folic acid is converted into dihydrofolate, and then further reduced to tetrahydrofolate (THF). This reduction process is catalyzed by the enzyme dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR). Tetrahydrofolate is the biologically active form of folate and serves as a coenzyme in one-carbon transfer reactions, which are essential for the synthesis of nucleotides (DNA and RNA building blocks) and certain amino acids, such as methionine and serine.

The importance of the folate pathway, and therefore dihidrofolic acid as a key intermediate, lies in its role in cell division and growth. Consequently, drugs that inhibit dihydrofolate reductase are used in chemotherapy to slow the proliferation of cancer cells, which have high rates of DNA synthesis and cell division. Methotrexate is a well-known example of such a drug. Similarly, certain antibiotics, like trimethoprim, target bacterial dihydrofolate reductase, interfering with bacterial growth by disrupting their folate metabolism. The production of dihidrofolic acid and its subsequent reduction to THF are vital processes for all living organisms, highlighting the significance of this molecule in fundamental biochemistry.