dihydrofolátsavvá

Dihidrofolátsavvá is the Hungarian name for dihydrofolate. It is an intermediate compound in the metabolic pathway of folate. Folate, also known as vitamin B9, is essential for various cellular processes, including DNA synthesis and repair, as well as amino acid metabolism. In the body, folate undergoes a series of enzymatic reductions to become tetrahydrofolate (THF), which is the active form. Dihydrofolate is formed during this reduction process and is then further reduced to THF by the enzyme dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR).

The interconversion between dihydrofolate and tetrahydrofolate is crucial for maintaining adequate levels of folate cofactors, which are involved in one-carbon transfer reactions. These reactions are fundamental for the synthesis of purines and pyrimidines, the building blocks of DNA and RNA, and for the metabolism of certain amino acids like methionine and serine. Disruptions in this pathway can lead to various health issues, including megaloblastic anemia.

Certain medications, such as methotrexate, target dihydrofolate reductase, inhibiting the conversion of dihydrofolate to tetrahydrofolate. This mechanism is used in chemotherapy to interfere with DNA synthesis in rapidly dividing cancer cells. Similarly, some antibiotics, like trimethoprim, also act as DHFR inhibitors, targeting the bacterial enzyme to disrupt folate metabolism and inhibit bacterial growth. Understanding the role of dihydrofolate is therefore important in both human physiology and the development of therapeutic agents.