Production of formaldehyde from N5-methyltetrahydrofolate by normal and leukemic leukocytes

Extracts of human normal and leukemic leukocytes contain an enzyme that catalyzes a transfer of labeled methyl carbon from N5-[14C]methyltetrahydrofolate to tryptamine. Evidence is presented that this reaction is not attributable to a methyltransferase but to the following reaction sequence: (a) an oxidation of N5-[14C]methyltetrahydrofolate to N5, N10-[14C]methylenetetrahydrofolate that is catalyzed by N5, N10-methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (EC 1.1.1.68); (b) spontaneous release of [14C]formaldehyde from N5, N10-[14C]methylenetetrahydrofolate; and (c) nonenzymatic condensation of [14C]formaldehyde with tryptamine to form a radioactive carboline derivative. The occurrence of this sequence in leukocytes is suggested by data that show that the enzyme reaction is strongly stimulated by addition of flavin adenine dinucleotide and that the final product is chromatographically identical to the adduct formed in the reaction of [14C]formaldehyde with tryptamine. In the absence of tryptamine, a product accumulates that can react with other HCHO acceptors, i.e., beta-phenylethylamine and dimedone; another reaction product is tetrahydrofolate. Production of formaldehyde is relatively more active in normal lymphocytes than in normal granulocytes, but it is even higher in lymphocytes of chronic lymphocytic leukemia. Activity in granulocytes from a subject with chronic myelocytic leukemia is also elevated but to a lesser extent than activity in lymphocytes of chronic lymphocytic leukemia. Activity in granulocytes from a subject with chronic myelocytic leukemia is also elevated but to a lesser extent than activity in lymphocytes of chronic lymphocytic leukemia. Formaldehyde production in leukocytes is only slightly stimulated by addition of various cobalamins, and activity is normal in leukocytes from a vitamin B12-deficient patient. We conclude that the system is cobalamin independent. Thus, there exists an active pathway from N5-methyltetrahydrofolate to tetrahydrofolate other than the one catalyzed by cobalamin-dependent N5-methyltetrahydrofolate-homocysteine methyltransferase.